Salary comparison
Postal Service Mail Carriers: Bozeman vs Iowa City
Bozeman, MT pays about 4.9% more for postal service mail carriers on paper — $68,060 vs $64,890. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Bozeman comes out ahead by $3,170 a year in real buying power.
Bozeman, MT
$68,060
$59,880
$81,040
$32.72
100
$68,060/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Iowa City, IA
$64,890
$53,390
$80,600
$31.20
100
$64,890/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $3,170 a year (4.9%) in favor of Bozeman. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Bozeman runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Iowa City sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Bozeman is the better deal by $3,170 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Iowa City to Bozeman for this role, the raise needs to beat 4.9% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do postal service mail carriers earn more, Bozeman or Iowa City?
Bozeman pays $68,060 on median — about 4.9% more than Iowa City ($64,890). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Bozeman. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Bozeman gives you roughly$68,060 of real buying power versus $64,890 in the other city.