Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Bozeman, MT Cost of Living Comparison Between Seattle, WA and Bozeman, MT

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,621 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,291 in Bozeman, MT, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,548 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,787 in Bozeman, MT, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,476 per month in Seattle, WA vs $6,283 in Bozeman, MT, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 10% more than Bozeman, MT, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Bozeman, MT sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 172%, Bozeman, MT by 147%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.02 $25.02

$28.03 $28.03

-10.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$100 $100

17.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.76 $13.76

$14.27 $14.27

-3.57%

Cappuccino

$5.85 $5.85

$5.64 $5.64

3.72%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 $3.05

$3.59 $3.59

-15.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$2.73 $2.73

-12.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.93 $7.93

$6.92 $6.92

14.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$7.19 $7.19

9.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$1.17 $1.17

18.80%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$4.89 $4.89

-0.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$6.23 $6.23

-16.85%

Eggs

$6.69 $6.69

$6.15 $6.15

8.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.28 $25.28

$21.99 $21.99

14.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$11.89 $11.89

33.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.16 $20.16

$19.91 $19.91

1.26%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$4.33 $4.33

42.96%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.53 $1.53

88.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$3.20 $3.20

71.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.38 $6.38

$3.57 $3.57

78.71%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$1.85 $1.85

67.03%

Onion (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$1.58 $1.58

140.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$2.30 $2.30

21.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$1.17 $1.17

123.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.41 $11.41

$8.93 $8.93

27.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.59 $15.59

$15.13 $15.13

3.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.74 $1.74

71.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.23 $4.23

$2.80 $2.80

51.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.01 $2.01

33.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$2.52 $2.52

6.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.39 $1.39

22.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.50 $29.50

$29.66 $29.66

-0.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.86 $0.86

32.56%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$33.3K $33.3K

$30.0K $30.0K

11.16%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.5K $26.5K

$25.9K $25.9K

2.41%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$261 $261

$156 $156

67.41%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$60.4 $60.4

$51.5 $51.5

17.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.8 $75.8

$88.3 $88.3

-14.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.8 $78.8

$61.9 $61.9

27.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.08 $40.08

$29.88 $29.88

34.14%

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$13.75 $13.75

15.05%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,210 $2,210

$1,182 $1,182

86.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$32.3K $32.3K

-7.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$65.9 $65.9

5.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$31.99 $31.99

62.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$123 $123

-4.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$100 $100

38.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,321 $2,321

$2,460 $2,460

-5.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,870 $1,870

$1,932 $1,932

-3.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,728 $4,728

$3,992 $3,992

18.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,569 $3,569

$3,031 $3,031

17.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,651 $7,651

$5,968 $5,968

28.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,034 $5,034

$5,880 $5,880

-14.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,516 $6,516

$4,315 $4,315

51.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.62

-3.02%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 26, 2026

Last update for Bozeman, MT: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,321 in Seattle, WA versus $2,460 in Bozeman, MT. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 51% higher in Seattle, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $118 in Seattle, WA versus $100 in Bozeman, MT. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $542 vs $433 – making Bozeman, MT the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Seattle, WA vs Bozeman, MT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 10%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,431 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,937 in Bozeman, MT. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bozeman, MT, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $118 in Seattle, WA and $100 in Bozeman, MT. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 25% more in Seattle, WA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,621 in Seattle, WA and $3,291 in Bozeman, MT. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Bozeman, MT – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bozeman, MT. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.