Is it cheaper to live in Huntsville or Rutland?

Huntsville, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,090 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Rutland, VT's $1,120, mainly because of electricity costs.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntsville than in Rutland?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Huntsville versus $34,000 in Rutland.

Which has lower taxes, Huntsville or Rutland?

Huntsville is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Rutland under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax).

Huntsville vs Rutland Cost of Living 2026

Huntsville

Alabama

$1,090/mo est.

Rutland

Vermont

$1,120/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 $1,120 in Rutland, VT. Overall, Huntsville, AL is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rutland, VT, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $70,778 in Huntsville, AL and $55,000 in Rutland, VT — about 22% higher in Huntsville, AL. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Huntsville, AL

Rutland, VT

Rent

Studio

$815

$893

+10% in Rutland, VT

1 Bedroom

$900

$856

+5% in Huntsville, AL

2 Bedroom

$1,080

$1,097

+2% in Rutland, VT

3 Bedroom

$1,251

$1,207

+4% in Huntsville, AL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$263,100

$176,400

+33% in Huntsville, AL

Income

Median Household Income

$70,778

$55,000

+22% in Huntsville, AL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,740

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.4 yr

48.5 yr

+12.1 yr in Rutland, VT

Homeownership

58.1%

52.7%

+5.4 pp in Huntsville, AL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

46.2%

32.2%

+14.0 pp in Huntsville, AL

Avg Commute

19.3 min

14.7 min

+4.6 min in Huntsville, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

483.2

487.8

+1% in Rutland, VT

Property Crime

2,395.7

3,973.3

+66% in Rutland, VT

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

44.6°F

+17.5°F in Huntsville, AL

Annual Precipitation

54.3 in

40.5 in

+13.9 in in Huntsville, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.94/gal

+9% in Rutland, VT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

24.4

+49% in Rutland, VT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.06

$26.07

+8% in Rutland, VT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Rutland, VT

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Rutland, VT

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Huntsville, AL

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Rutland, VT

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Rutland, VT

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Rutland, VT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AL / VT)

+2.0 pp in VT

Income Tax (top rate)

5.00%

8.75%

+3.8 pp in VT

Huntsville vs Rutland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Huntsville or Rutland?: Huntsville, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,090 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Rutland, VT's $1,120, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntsville than in Rutland?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Huntsville versus $34,000 in Rutland.
Which has lower taxes, Huntsville or Rutland?: Huntsville is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Rutland under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% 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).