Living Cost Compare
Montgomery

Alabama

$1,020/mo est.

vs
St. Louis

Missouri

$1,060/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 $1,060 in St. Louis, MO. Overall, Montgomery, AL is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than St. Louis, MO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,687 in Montgomery, AL and $55,279 in St. Louis, MO — about 1% higher in Montgomery, AL. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Montgomery, AL
St. Louis, MO

Rent

Studio
$864
$864
about equal
1 Bedroom
$831
$866
+4% in St. Louis, MO
2 Bedroom
$982
$1,109
+13% in St. Louis, MO
3 Bedroom
$1,172
$1,135
+3% in Montgomery, AL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$148,500
$185,100
+25% in St. Louis, MO

Income

Median Household Income
$55,687
$55,279
+1% in Montgomery, AL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$44,950
$49,990
+11% in St. Louis, MO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.2 yr
36.6 yr
+0.4 yr in St. Louis, MO
Homeownership
54.3%
45.4%
+8.9 pp in Montgomery, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.5%
40.2%
+6.7 pp in St. Louis, MO
Avg Commute
20.5 min
22.2 min
+1.7 min in St. Louis, MO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
605.5
1,372.9
+127% in St. Louis, MO
Property Crime
2,258.3
5,794.9
+157% in St. Louis, MO

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
55.7°F
+9.4°F in Montgomery, AL
Annual Precipitation
53.1 in
40.9 in
+12.1 in in Montgomery, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.85/gal
+6% in St. Louis, MO

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
16.2
+1% in Montgomery, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.06
$28.78
+20% in St. Louis, MO

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in St. Louis, MO
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Montgomery, AL
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in St. Louis, MO
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in St. Louis, MO
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in St. Louis, MO
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AL / MO)
4%
4.225%
+0.2 pp in MO
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
4.70%
+0.3 pp in AL

Montgomery vs St. Louis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Montgomery or St. Louis?
Montgomery, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below St. Louis, MO's $1,060, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Montgomery than in St. Louis?
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 St. Louis.
Which has lower taxes, Montgomery or St. Louis?
Montgomery is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); St. Louis under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).