Living Cost Compare
Charlotte

North Carolina

$1,560/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 $1,560 in Charlotte, NC versus $1,020 in Montgomery, AL. Overall, Montgomery, AL is roughly 35% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charlotte, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $78,438 in Charlotte, NC and $55,687 in Montgomery, AL — about 29% higher in Charlotte, NC. North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax; Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Charlotte, NC
Montgomery, AL

Rent

Studio
$1,424
$864
+39% in Charlotte, NC
1 Bedroom
$1,374
$831
+40% in Charlotte, NC
2 Bedroom
$1,491
$982
+34% in Charlotte, NC
3 Bedroom
$1,663
$1,172
+30% in Charlotte, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$351,500
$148,500
+58% in Charlotte, NC

Income

Median Household Income
$78,438
$55,687
+29% in Charlotte, NC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,990
$44,950
+10% in Charlotte, NC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.4 yr
36.2 yr
+1.8 yr in Montgomery, AL
Homeownership
51.5%
54.3%
+2.8 pp in Montgomery, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
47.4%
33.5%
+13.9 pp in Charlotte, NC
Avg Commute
25.0 min
20.5 min
+4.5 min in Charlotte, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
733.1
605.5
+17% in Charlotte, NC
Property Crime
3,718.9
2,258.3
+39% in Charlotte, NC

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
59.9°F
65.1°F
+5.2°F in Montgomery, AL
Annual Precipitation
41.6 in
53.1 in
+11.4 in in Montgomery, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.62/gal
+8% in Charlotte, NC

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.20
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.7
16.4
+11% in Montgomery, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$30.10
$24.06
+20% in Charlotte, NC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NC / AL)
4.75%
4%
+0.8 pp in NC
Income Tax (top rate)
3.99%
5.00%
+1.0 pp in AL

Charlotte vs Montgomery — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charlotte or Montgomery?
Montgomery, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 35% below Charlotte, NC's $1,560, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charlotte than in Montgomery?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Charlotte versus $33,000 in Montgomery.
Which has lower taxes, Charlotte or Montgomery?
Charlotte is taxed under North Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).