Living Cost Compare
Montgomery

Alabama

$1,020/mo est.

vs
New Haven

Connecticut

$1,530/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,020 in Montgomery, AL versus $1,530 in New Haven, CT. Overall, Montgomery, AL is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Haven, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,687 in Montgomery, AL and $53,771 in New Haven, CT — about 3% higher in Montgomery, AL. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Montgomery, AL
New Haven, CT

Rent

Studio
$864
$1,159
+34% in New Haven, CT
1 Bedroom
$831
$1,275
+53% in New Haven, CT
2 Bedroom
$982
$1,473
+50% in New Haven, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,172
$1,636
+40% in New Haven, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$148,500
$249,000
+68% in New Haven, CT

Income

Median Household Income
$55,687
$53,771
+3% in Montgomery, AL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$44,950
$60,060
+34% in New Haven, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.2 yr
31.9 yr
+4.3 yr in Montgomery, AL
Homeownership
54.3%
28.4%
+25.9 pp in Montgomery, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.5%
37.7%
+4.2 pp in New Haven, CT
Avg Commute
20.5 min
21.0 min
+0.5 min in New Haven, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
605.5
536.3
+11% in Montgomery, AL
Property Crime
2,258.3
3,601.6
+59% in New Haven, CT

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
65.1°F
52.2°F
+12.9°F in Montgomery, AL
Annual Precipitation
53.1 in
47.1 in
+6.0 in in Montgomery, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in New Haven, CT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
24.3
+48% in New Haven, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.06
$23.33
+3% in Montgomery, AL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in New Haven, CT
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in New Haven, CT
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Montgomery, AL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in New Haven, CT
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in New Haven, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in New Haven, CT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AL / CT)
4%
6.35%
+2.3 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
6.99%
+2.0 pp in CT

Montgomery vs New Haven — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Montgomery or New Haven?
Montgomery, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below New Haven, CT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Montgomery than in New Haven?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Montgomery versus $51,000 in New Haven.
Which has lower taxes, Montgomery or New Haven?
Montgomery is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); New Haven under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).