Living Cost Compare
Cincinnati

Ohio

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Cincinnati, OH versus $1,020 in Montgomery, AL. Overall, Montgomery, AL is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cincinnati, OH, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $51,707 in Cincinnati, OH and $55,687 in Montgomery, AL — about 7% higher in Montgomery, AL. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Cincinnati, OH
Montgomery, AL

Rent

Studio
$791
$864
+9% in Montgomery, AL
1 Bedroom
$817
$831
+2% in Montgomery, AL
2 Bedroom
$1,023
$982
+4% in Cincinnati, OH
3 Bedroom
$1,228
$1,172
+5% in Cincinnati, OH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$215,300
$148,500
+31% in Cincinnati, OH

Income

Median Household Income
$51,707
$55,687
+8% in Montgomery, AL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,170
$44,950
+10% in Cincinnati, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
36.2 yr
+3.2 yr in Montgomery, AL
Homeownership
38.9%
54.3%
+15.4 pp in Montgomery, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.3%
33.5%
+7.8 pp in Cincinnati, OH
Avg Commute
23.1 min
20.5 min
+2.6 min in Cincinnati, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
856.5
605.5
+29% in Cincinnati, OH
Property Crime
3,877.7
2,258.3
+42% in Cincinnati, OH

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
54.3°F
65.1°F
+10.8°F in Montgomery, AL
Annual Precipitation
41.9 in
53.1 in
+11.1 in in Montgomery, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.80/gal
$3.62/gal
+5% in Cincinnati, OH

Area: Ohio vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.2
16.4
+15% in Cincinnati, OH
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.83
$24.06
+5% in Montgomery, AL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Cincinnati, OH
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Montgomery, AL
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Cincinnati, OH
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Cincinnati, OH
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Cincinnati, OH
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / AL)
5.75%
4%
+1.8 pp in OH
Income Tax (top rate)
2.75%
5.00%
+2.3 pp in AL

Cincinnati vs Montgomery — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cincinnati or Montgomery?
Montgomery, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Cincinnati, OH's $1,030, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cincinnati than in Montgomery?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cincinnati versus $33,000 in Montgomery.
Which has lower taxes, Cincinnati or Montgomery?
Cincinnati is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).