Living Cost Compare
Montgomery

Alabama

$1,020/mo est.

vs
Springfield

Missouri

$970/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 $970 in Springfield, MO. Overall, Springfield, MO is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Montgomery, AL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,687 in Montgomery, AL and $45,984 in Springfield, MO — about 17% 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
Springfield, MO

Rent

Studio
$864
$760
+12% in Montgomery, AL
1 Bedroom
$831
$772
+7% in Montgomery, AL
2 Bedroom
$982
$926
+6% in Montgomery, AL
3 Bedroom
$1,172
$1,158
+1% in Montgomery, AL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$148,500
$165,200
+11% in Springfield, MO

Income

Median Household Income
$55,687
$45,984
+17% in Montgomery, AL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$44,950
$45,780
+2% in Springfield, MO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.2 yr
33.6 yr
+2.6 yr in Montgomery, AL
Homeownership
54.3%
42.9%
+11.4 pp in Montgomery, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.5%
30.3%
+3.2 pp in Montgomery, AL
Avg Commute
20.5 min
18.0 min
+2.5 min in Montgomery, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
605.5
1,189.8
+96% in Springfield, MO
Property Crime
2,258.3
4,231.6
+87% in Springfield, 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
56.3°F
+8.8°F in Montgomery, AL
Annual Precipitation
53.1 in
45.6 in
+7.5 in in Montgomery, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.85/gal
+6% in Springfield, 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 Springfield, MO

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Springfield, MO
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Montgomery, AL
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Springfield, MO
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Springfield, MO
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Springfield, 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 Springfield — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Montgomery or Springfield?
Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Montgomery, AL's $1,020, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Montgomery than in Springfield?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Montgomery versus $31,000 in Springfield.
Which has lower taxes, Montgomery or Springfield?
Montgomery is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Springfield 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).