Living Cost Compare
Montgomery

Alabama

$1,020/mo est.

vs
Norman

Oklahoma

$1,050/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 $1,050 in Norman, OK. Overall, Montgomery, AL is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Norman, OK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,687 in Montgomery, AL and $65,060 in Norman, OK — about 14% higher in Norman, OK. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Montgomery, AL
Norman, OK

Rent

Studio
$864
$820
+5% in Montgomery, AL
1 Bedroom
$831
$863
+4% in Norman, OK
2 Bedroom
$982
$1,056
+8% in Norman, OK
3 Bedroom
$1,172
$1,377
+17% in Norman, OK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$148,500
$239,300
+61% in Norman, OK

Income

Median Household Income
$55,687
$65,060
+17% in Norman, OK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$44,950
$47,230
+5% in Norman, OK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.2 yr
31.6 yr
+4.6 yr in Montgomery, AL
Homeownership
54.3%
52.7%
+1.6 pp in Montgomery, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.5%
46.2%
+12.7 pp in Norman, OK
Avg Commute
20.5 min
22.2 min
+1.7 min in Norman, OK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
605.5
268.6
+56% in Montgomery, AL
Property Crime
2,258.3
2,294.1
+2% in Norman, OK

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
61.5°F
+3.6°F in Montgomery, AL
Annual Precipitation
53.1 in
36.5 in
+16.5 in in Montgomery, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.85/gal
+6% in Norman, OK

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
14.3
+13% in Montgomery, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.06
$31.25
+30% in Norman, OK

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 / OK)
4%
4.5%
+0.5 pp in OK
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
4.50%
+0.5 pp in AL

Montgomery vs Norman — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Montgomery or Norman?
Montgomery, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Norman, OK's $1,050, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Montgomery than in Norman?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Montgomery versus $35,000 in Norman.
Which has lower taxes, Montgomery or Norman?
Montgomery is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Norman under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% 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).