Bozeman is an interesting case as far as cost of living is concerned.

This might have something to do with the various monetary situations that exist amongst the city's occupants.

As a university town, a significant portion of Bozeman's population consists of college students. Some of these students are riding their parents' coattails, and as a result, they have a significant amount of expendable income. Other students are DIRT poor. There are businesses that cater to both here. Therefore, you can find an apple for 30 cents or a dollar. It's up to you.

As a resort disguised as a town (or maybe a town disguised as a resort), there are lots of affluent tourists and vacationers with summer homes, and because of this, you will find several businesses catering to the high-end market. Recently, there has been somewhat of a shift away from the high-end market due to the soft economy, but if you have expensive tastes, you will still not be disappointed with Bozeman's offerings.

As a somewhat small Montana town, there are a lot of people with limited funds living in Bozeman. The construction and service industries have taken a serious hit, as many formerly affluent citizens are moving out and selling their vacation homes to sure up their bank accounts. Working in any occupation directly or indirectly dependent on table scraps handed out by tourists is getting increasingly rough these days.

Don't come here thinking you'll be able to land a job right away. There are many, many more job hunters than jobs in Bozeman. That is why a majority of people raised in Bozeman move away to build a career.

Going out to dinner could cost you from $10 to $50 per person (not including drinks). Once again, both sides of the economic spectrum are represented here.

Going to the movies will cost you about $15/person, which is a terrible deal IMHO. The theater is LOW quality for this price, but since they have a monopoly, there is no other choice. The atmosphere there is nightmarishly cheesy, the sound and projection equipment are garbage. Because this corporate mega-theater complex ran the other two main street theaters out of business, you have to drive to the insipid mall on the West side of town if you want to see a recently released film.

If you are interested in the natural entertainment provided by living in a valley completely surrounded by some of the world's most beautiful mountains, Bozeman is a cornucopia of natural beauty, and nearly all of it is free to enjoy. Drive 15 minutes in any direction, and you'll be in a place postcards dream of.

It's hard to give an amalgamated cost of living for Bozeman because it is so varied in its population and activities, and as such, its prices are equally diverse. Rich, poor, or in-between, Bozeman has something for you and your lifestyle.