Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Bozeman, MT: $3,139 a month against $3,785 in Seattle, WA, rent and utilities included – about $7,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Seattle, WA, United States
Bozeman, MT, United States
Seattle, WA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,785
/mo nomad
Bozeman, MT
🇺🇸 United States
$3,139
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Seattle, WA and in Bozeman, MT

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Seattle, WA and in Bozeman, MT actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $3,785 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,139 in Bozeman, MT, rent included.

  • Seattle, WA $3,785
  • Bozeman, MT $3,139

A couple spends around $5,688 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,408 in Bozeman, MT, rent included.

  • Seattle, WA $5,688
  • Bozeman, MT $4,408

A family of three spends $7,592 per month in Seattle, WA vs $5,678 in Bozeman, MT, rent included.

  • Seattle, WA $7,592
  • Bozeman, MT $5,678

Seattle, WA costs about 21% more than Bozeman, MT, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Seattle, WA and Bozeman, MT sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 178%, Bozeman, MT by 131%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Seattle, WA
Bozeman, MT
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.30 $25.30
$17.17 $17.17
47.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$101 $101
$75.4 $75.4
33.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.76 $14.76
$14.87 $14.87
-0.74%
Cappuccino
$6.50 $6.50
$4.33 $4.33
50.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 $3.21
$3.03 $3.03
5.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14 $3.14
$2.57 $2.57
22.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.97 $7.97
$7.04 $7.04
13.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.13 $8.13
$6.95 $6.95
16.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
Bozeman, MT
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 $1.17
$1.02 $1.02
14.71%
White Bread (500g)
$5.30 $5.30
$3.34 $3.34
58.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.40 $6.40
$7.58 $7.58
-15.57%
Eggs
$5.06 $5.06
$6.39 $6.39
-20.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.71 $18.71
$24.41 $24.41
-23.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$18.72 $18.72
$10.16 $10.16
84.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.88 $22.88
$19.12 $19.12
19.67%
Apples (1kg)
$6.06 $6.06
$4.52 $4.52
34.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.95 $1.95
$1.48 $1.48
31.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.51 $5.51
$4.00 $4.00
37.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.52 $6.52
$3.81 $3.81
71.13%
Potato (1kg)
$3.49 $3.49
$1.90 $1.90
83.68%
Onion (1kg)
$3.29 $3.29
$2.17 $2.17
51.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.80 $2.80
$2.33 $2.33
20.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.14 $2.14
20.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.49 $12.49
$9.45 $9.45
32.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.87 $14.87
$14.76 $14.76
0.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.19 $4.19
$1.75 $1.75
139.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.80 $5.80
$4.31 $4.31
34.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Seattle, WA
Bozeman, MT
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.05 $3.05
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$106 $106
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.48 $2.48
4.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.64 $1.64
$1.35 $1.35
21.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.12 $30.12
$59.7 $59.7
-49.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.41 $1.41
$0.99 $0.99
42.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.8K $36.8K
$30.1K $30.1K
22.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K $26.6K
$24.3K $24.3K
9.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
Bozeman, MT
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$308 $308
$175 $175
75.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$69.2 $69.2
$51.6 $51.6
34.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$86.1 $86.1
$69.6 $69.6
23.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
Bozeman, MT
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.5 $76.5
$64.4 $64.4
18.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.50 $35.50
$25.88 $25.88
37.17%
Cinema Ticket
$18.02 $18.02
$13.62 $13.62
32.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Seattle, WA
Bozeman, MT
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,746 $2,746
$1,203 $1,203
128.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$30.6K $30.6K
$19.0K $19.0K
61.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
Bozeman, MT
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.2 $79.2
$54.0 $54.0
46.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.3 $54.3
$32.18 $32.18
68.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$127 $127
$97.8 $97.8
29.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$159 $159
$49.05 $49.05
224.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
Bozeman, MT
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,508 $2,508
$2,549 $2,549
-1.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,938 $1,938
$1,892 $1,892
2.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,117 $5,117
$3,827 $3,827
33.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,542 $3,542
$2,881 $2,881
22.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,374 $7,374
$5,817 $5,817
26.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,002 $5,002
$4,626 $4,626
8.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Seattle, WA
Bozeman, MT
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,470 $6,470
$4,251 $4,251
52.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.89
6.72
2.53%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 26, 2026

Last update for Bozeman, MT: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Seattle, WA
$1.9K
Bozeman, MT
$1.9K 2.4% $46
Groceries & Markets
Seattle, WA
$547
Bozeman, MT
$439 19.7% $108
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Seattle, WA
$463
Bozeman, MT
$296 36% $166
Eating Out
Seattle, WA
$406
Bozeman, MT
$305 24.8% $101
Clothing & Footwear
Seattle, WA
$189
Bozeman, MT
$105 44.4% $84
Getting Around
Seattle, WA
$129
Bozeman, MT
$9.2 * 92.8% $120
Sport & Entertainment
Seattle, WA
$112
Bozeman, MT
$92 18.6% $21

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,508 in Seattle, WA versus $2,549 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 52% higher in Seattle, WA. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Seattle, WA versus $75 in Bozeman, MT. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $547 vs $439 – making Bozeman, MT the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Seattle, WA
🇺🇸 Bozeman, MT
🕒 Local time
21:35 9:35 PM
22:35 10:35 PM
1 h ahead of Seattle, WA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
737,015
53,293
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Seattle, WA Bozeman, MT 890 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Seattle, WA
  • Bozeman, MT

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Is Bozeman, MT cheaper than Seattle, WA?
Yes – Seattle, WA is pricier by about 21%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in transport.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,677 per month in Seattle, WA and $4,709 in Bozeman, MT. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What is the rent difference between Seattle, WA and Bozeman, MT?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $2,508 in Seattle, WA and $2,549 in Bozeman, MT. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
Is eating out cheaper in Seattle, WA or in Bozeman, MT?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $101 in Seattle, WA and $75 in Bozeman, MT. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Seattle, WA and in Bozeman, MT?
Groceries cost about 24% more in Seattle, WA, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is $2,500 enough to cover costs in Seattle, WA or in Bozeman, MT?
$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,785 in Seattle, WA and $3,139 in Bozeman, MT. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city suits remote workers better?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bozeman, MT costs $3,139 versus $3,785 in Seattle, WA. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Bozeman, MT. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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