Living Cost Compare
Montgomery

Alabama

$1,020/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,150/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 $2,150 in Washington, DC. Overall, Montgomery, AL is roughly 53% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,687 in Montgomery, AL and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 48% higher in Washington, DC. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Montgomery, AL
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$864
$1,763
+104% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$831
$1,885
+127% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$982
$1,949
+98% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$1,172
$2,249
+92% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$148,500
$724,600
+388% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$55,687
$106,287
+91% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$44,950
$71,060
+58% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.2 yr
34.9 yr
+1.3 yr in Montgomery, AL
Homeownership
54.3%
41.1%
+13.2 pp in Montgomery, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.5%
63.6%
+30.1 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
20.5 min
30.3 min
+9.8 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
605.5
936.3
+55% in Washington, DC
Property Crime
2,258.3
3,627.9
+61% in Washington, DC

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
58.2°F
+6.9°F in Montgomery, AL
Annual Precipitation
53.1 in
39.7 in
+13.3 in in Montgomery, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Washington, DC

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs WMATA (Metrobus) (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
24.4
+49% in Washington, DC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.06
$27.28
+13% in Washington, DC

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 / DC)
4%
6%
+2.0 pp in DC
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
10.75%
+5.8 pp in DC

Montgomery vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Montgomery or Washington?
Montgomery, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 53% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Montgomery than in Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Montgomery versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Montgomery or Washington?
Montgomery is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% 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).