Living Cost Compare
Anaheim

California

$2,100/mo est.

vs
Montgomery

Alabama

$1,020/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,100 in Anaheim, CA versus $1,020 in Montgomery, AL. Overall, Montgomery, AL is roughly 51% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Anaheim, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,583 in Anaheim, CA and $55,687 in Montgomery, AL — about 39% higher in Anaheim, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Anaheim, CA
Montgomery, AL

Rent

Studio
$1,929
$864
+55% in Anaheim, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,764
$831
+53% in Anaheim, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,171
$982
+55% in Anaheim, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,653
$1,172
+56% in Anaheim, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$771,700
$148,500
+81% in Anaheim, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$90,583
$55,687
+39% in Anaheim, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$44,950
+20% in Anaheim, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
36.2 yr
+0.3 yr in Montgomery, AL
Homeownership
45.9%
54.3%
+8.4 pp in Montgomery, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.8%
33.5%
+4.7 pp in Montgomery, AL
Avg Commute
28.2 min
20.5 min
+7.7 min in Anaheim, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
597.7
605.5
+1% in Montgomery, AL
Property Crime
2,234.9
2,258.3
+1% in Montgomery, AL

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
67.1°F
65.1°F
+2.0°F in Anaheim, CA
Annual Precipitation
13.4 in
53.1 in
+39.6 in in Montgomery, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.53/gal
$3.62/gal
+35% in Anaheim, CA

Area: Los Angeles vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

Adult base one-way fare — OCTA vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
34.7
16.4
+53% in Anaheim, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.33
$24.06
+18% in Montgomery, AL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Anaheim, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Anaheim, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Montgomery, AL
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Anaheim, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Anaheim, CA
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Anaheim, CA

Average prices — West vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / AL)
7.25%
4%
+3.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
5.00%
+8.3 pp in CA

Anaheim vs Montgomery — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anaheim or Montgomery?
Montgomery, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 51% below Anaheim, CA's $2,100, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anaheim than in Montgomery?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $71,000 a year in Anaheim versus $33,000 in Montgomery.
Which has lower taxes, Anaheim or Montgomery?
Anaheim is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Montgomery under Alabama's (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).