Living Cost Compare
Huntsville

Alabama

$1,090/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 $1,090 in Huntsville, AL versus $1,020 in Montgomery, AL. Overall, Montgomery, AL is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Huntsville, AL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $70,778 in Huntsville, AL and $55,687 in Montgomery, AL — about 21% higher in Huntsville, AL. Both cities are in Alabama, so state taxes are identical: a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Huntsville, AL
Montgomery, AL

Rent

Studio
$815
$864
+6% in Montgomery, AL
1 Bedroom
$900
$831
+8% in Huntsville, AL
2 Bedroom
$1,080
$982
+9% in Huntsville, AL
3 Bedroom
$1,251
$1,172
+6% in Huntsville, AL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$263,100
$148,500
+44% in Huntsville, AL

Income

Median Household Income
$70,778
$55,687
+21% in Huntsville, AL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,740
$44,950
+13% in Huntsville, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
36.2 yr
+0.2 yr in Huntsville, AL
Homeownership
58.1%
54.3%
+3.8 pp in Huntsville, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.2%
33.5%
+12.7 pp in Huntsville, AL
Avg Commute
19.3 min
20.5 min
+1.2 min in Montgomery, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
483.2
605.5
+25% in Montgomery, AL
Property Crime
2,395.7
2,258.3
+6% in Huntsville, AL

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
62.1°F
65.1°F
+3.0°F in Montgomery, AL
Annual Precipitation
54.3 in
53.1 in
+1.3 in in Huntsville, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.62/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
16.4
about equal
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.06
$24.06
about equal

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 (AL / AL)
4%
4%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
5.00%
about equal

Huntsville vs Montgomery — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Huntsville or Montgomery?
Montgomery, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Huntsville, AL's $1,090, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntsville than in Montgomery?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Huntsville versus $33,000 in Montgomery.
Which has lower taxes, Huntsville or Montgomery?
Neither — both are in Alabama, so they share the same state tax rates: 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).