Is Montgomery expensive to live in?

Montgomery is among the more affordable of the 158 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $831 per month ranks #129 of 158 and is 20% lower than the $1,043 median.

What is the average rent in Montgomery?

Average rent in Montgomery, AL runs a studio around $864, a one-bedroom around $831, a two-bedroom around $982, a three-bedroom around $1,172 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in Montgomery?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $831 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year. The median household income here is $55,687.

How much does it cost to live in Montgomery per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Montgomery is about $1,020 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Cost of Living in Montgomery, AL

Population 198,440 · Alabama

~$1,020/mo est.1BR $831Home $148,500

Compare with:

The cost of living in Montgomery, AL is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $831 a month — 20% lower than the $1,043 median across the 158 large US cities we track. Studios average $864 and two-bedrooms $982.

Median household income here is $55,687, 18% lower than the $67,696 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $1,020 before food and transport. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $831

Studio

$864

1 Bedroom

$831

2 Bedroom

$982

3 Bedroom

$1,172

Buying a Home$148,500

Median Home Value

$148,500

Income$55,687

Median Household Income

$55,687

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$44,950

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesSouth

Milk (gal)

$4.00

Bread (lb)

$1.75

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

Average prices, South (BLS, 2026-07-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities16.4¢/kWh

Electricity

16.4¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$24.06/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-06-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$3.62/gal

Regular Gasoline (Gulf Coast (PADD 3))

$3.62/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-08-31.

State Taxes (AL)4% sales

State Sales Tax

State Income Tax (top rate)

Up to 5.00%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime605.5 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

605.5

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

2,258.3

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Montgomery Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 36.2 yrs

Median Age

36.2 yrs

Homeownership

54.3%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.5%

Avg Commute

20.5 min

Climate65.1°F

Avg Annual Temperature

65.1°F

Annual Precipitation

53.1 in

Montgomery cost of living — FAQ

Is Montgomery expensive to live in?: Montgomery is among the more affordable of the 158 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $831 per month ranks #129 of 158 and is 20% lower than the $1,043 median.
What is the average rent in Montgomery?: Average rent in Montgomery, AL runs a studio around $864, a one-bedroom around $831, a two-bedroom around $982, a three-bedroom around $1,172 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Montgomery?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $831 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year. The median household income here is $55,687.
How much does it cost to live in Montgomery per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Montgomery is about $1,020 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Montgomery with nearby cities

Montgomery vs Columbus Montgomery vs Birmingham Montgomery vs Atlanta Montgomery vs Huntsville Montgomery vs Hattiesburg Montgomery vs Gulfport

Nearby cities

Columbus, GA 77 mi Birmingham, AL 85 mi Atlanta, GA 146 mi Huntsville, AL 164 mi Hattiesburg, MS 190 mi Gulfport, MS 215 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.