Living Cost Compare
Fresno

California

$1,380/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 $1,380 in Fresno, CA versus $1,020 in Montgomery, AL. Overall, Montgomery, AL is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fresno, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,804 in Fresno, CA and $55,687 in Montgomery, AL — about 17% higher in Fresno, 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.

Fresno, CA
Montgomery, AL

Rent

Studio
$1,072
$864
+19% in Fresno, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,042
$831
+20% in Fresno, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,293
$982
+24% in Fresno, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,688
$1,172
+31% in Fresno, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$348,500
$148,500
+57% in Fresno, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$66,804
$55,687
+17% in Fresno, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,910
$44,950
+4% in Fresno, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.4 yr
36.2 yr
+3.8 yr in Montgomery, AL
Homeownership
49.7%
54.3%
+4.6 pp in Montgomery, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
24.9%
33.5%
+8.6 pp in Montgomery, AL
Avg Commute
22.3 min
20.5 min
+1.8 min in Fresno, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
742.2
605.5
+18% in Fresno, CA
Property Crime
3,335.3
2,258.3
+32% in Fresno, CA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
64.4°F
65.1°F
+0.7°F in Montgomery, AL
Annual Precipitation
11.5 in
53.1 in
+41.6 in in Montgomery, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.52/gal
$3.62/gal
+34% in Fresno, CA

Area: California vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.25
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
34.7
16.4
+53% in Fresno, 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 Fresno, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Fresno, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Montgomery, AL
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Fresno, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Fresno, CA
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Fresno, 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

Fresno vs Montgomery — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fresno or Montgomery?
Montgomery, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Fresno, CA's $1,380, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fresno than in Montgomery?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Fresno versus $33,000 in Montgomery.
Which has lower taxes, Fresno or Montgomery?
Fresno 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).