Living Cost Compare
Columbus

Ohio

$1,270/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 $1,270 in Columbus, OH versus $1,020 in Montgomery, AL. Overall, Montgomery, AL is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Columbus, OH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,327 in Columbus, OH and $55,687 in Montgomery, AL — about 15% higher in Columbus, OH. 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.

Columbus, OH
Montgomery, AL

Rent

Studio
$1,014
$864
+15% in Columbus, OH
1 Bedroom
$1,059
$831
+22% in Columbus, OH
2 Bedroom
$1,276
$982
+23% in Columbus, OH
3 Bedroom
$1,369
$1,172
+14% in Columbus, OH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$234,500
$148,500
+37% in Columbus, OH

Income

Median Household Income
$65,327
$55,687
+15% in Columbus, OH
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,340
$44,950
+12% in Columbus, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
36.2 yr
+3.2 yr in Montgomery, AL
Homeownership
44.3%
54.3%
+10.0 pp in Montgomery, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.2%
33.5%
+4.7 pp in Columbus, OH
Avg Commute
21.8 min
20.5 min
+1.3 min in Columbus, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
485.2
605.5
+25% in Montgomery, AL
Property Crime
3,093.9
2,258.3
+27% in Columbus, OH

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.7°F
65.1°F
+12.4°F in Montgomery, AL
Annual Precipitation
40.1 in
53.1 in
+13.0 in in Montgomery, AL

Gas

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

Area: Ohio vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.2
16.4
+15% in Columbus, 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 Columbus, OH
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Montgomery, AL
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Columbus, OH
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Columbus, OH
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Columbus, 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

Columbus vs Montgomery — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Montgomery?
Montgomery, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Columbus, OH's $1,270, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbus than in Montgomery?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Columbus versus $33,000 in Montgomery.
Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Montgomery?
Columbus 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).