Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Montgomery?

Montgomery, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 64% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Montgomery?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $33,000 in Montgomery.

Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Montgomery?

Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Montgomery under Alabama's (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax).

Cambridge vs Montgomery Cost of Living 2026

Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

Montgomery

Alabama

$1,020/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,810 in Cambridge, MA versus $1,020 in Montgomery, AL. Overall, Montgomery, AL is roughly 64% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $126,469 in Cambridge, MA and $55,687 in Montgomery, AL — about 56% higher in Cambridge, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Cambridge, MA

Montgomery, AL

Rent

Studio

$2,236

$864

+61% in Cambridge, MA

1 Bedroom

$2,496

$831

+67% in Cambridge, MA

2 Bedroom

$2,980

$982

+67% in Cambridge, MA

3 Bedroom

$3,325

$1,172

+65% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$1,040,500

$148,500

+86% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$126,469

$55,687

+56% in Cambridge, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$66,620

$44,950

+33% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

30.5 yr

36.2 yr

+5.7 yr in Montgomery, AL

Homeownership

33.7%

54.3%

+20.6 pp in Montgomery, AL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

80.2%

33.5%

+46.7 pp in Cambridge, MA

Avg Commute

26.1 min

20.5 min

+5.6 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

436.7

605.5

+39% in Montgomery, AL

Property Crime

2,657.6

2,258.3

+15% in Cambridge, MA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

51.5°F

65.1°F

+13.6°F in Montgomery, AL

Annual Precipitation

43.8 in

53.1 in

+9.3 in in Montgomery, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.07/gal

$3.62/gal

+11% in Cambridge, MA

Area: Massachusetts vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

16.4

+45% in Cambridge, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.66

$24.06

+22% in Cambridge, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Cambridge, MA

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.75

+9% in Cambridge, MA

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Montgomery, AL

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.45

+6% in Cambridge, MA

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$1.90

+13% in Cambridge, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Cambridge, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MA / AL)

6.25%

+2.3 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

9.00%

5.00%

+4.0 pp in MA

Cambridge vs Montgomery — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Montgomery?: Montgomery, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 64% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Montgomery?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $33,000 in Montgomery.
Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Montgomery?: Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).