Living Cost Compare
Montgomery

Alabama

$1,020/mo est.

vs
West Valley City

Utah

$1,330/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 $1,330 in West Valley City, UT. Overall, Montgomery, AL is roughly 23% cheaper to live in day-to-day than West Valley City, UT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,687 in Montgomery, AL and $88,604 in West Valley City, UT — about 37% higher in West Valley City, UT. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Montgomery, AL
West Valley City, UT

Rent

Studio
$864
$1,085
+26% in West Valley City, UT
1 Bedroom
$831
$1,191
+43% in West Valley City, UT
2 Bedroom
$982
$1,333
+36% in West Valley City, UT
3 Bedroom
$1,172
$1,723
+47% in West Valley City, UT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$148,500
$377,300
+154% in West Valley City, UT

Income

Median Household Income
$55,687
$88,604
+59% in West Valley City, UT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$44,950
$55,240
+23% in West Valley City, UT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.2 yr
30.3 yr
+5.9 yr in Montgomery, AL
Homeownership
54.3%
71.1%
+16.8 pp in West Valley City, UT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.5%
15.7%
+17.8 pp in Montgomery, AL
Avg Commute
20.5 min
22.2 min
+1.7 min in West Valley City, UT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
605.5
471.8
+22% in Montgomery, AL
Property Crime
2,258.3
1,855.5
+18% in Montgomery, AL

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
52.8°F
+12.3°F in Montgomery, AL
Annual Precipitation
53.1 in
16.1 in
+37.0 in in Montgomery, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$4.27/gal
+18% in West Valley City, UT

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
13.4
+18% in Montgomery, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.06
$11.84
+51% in Montgomery, AL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in West Valley City, UT
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in West Valley City, UT
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Montgomery, AL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in West Valley City, UT
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in West Valley City, UT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in West Valley City, UT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AL / UT)
4%
6.1%
+2.1 pp in UT
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
4.50%
+0.5 pp in AL

Montgomery vs West Valley City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Montgomery or West Valley City?
Montgomery, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% below West Valley City, UT's $1,330, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Montgomery than in West Valley City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Montgomery versus $48,000 in West Valley City.
Which has lower taxes, Montgomery or West Valley City?
Montgomery is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); West Valley City under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).