Cost of Living in Montgomery, AL
| Cost of Living in Montgomery, AL | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 16% higher | 18% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 8% higher | 10% higher |
| Food | 3% higher | 1% higher |
| Healthcare | 15% lower | 18% lower |
| Transportation | 8% lower | 11% lower |
| Goods & Services | 1% higher | 9% lower |
The cost of living in Montgomery, AL is 4% higher than the state average and 9% lower than the national average. Montgomery, AL housing is 18% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 10% pricier. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 1% pricier in Montgomery, AL than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 9% less .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 18% less here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 9% cheaper in Montgomery, AL.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Montgomery is $1,084, while home prices circle around $457,310.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Montgomery, energy bills cost around $262.50 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $4.88 in Montgomery, a dozen eggs go for around $4.89 and a pound of potatoes circles around $5.59.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Montgomery, an optometry check-up costs around $98.52, while a dentist appointment is priced $81.40 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $2.80 in Montgomery, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $53.68.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $42.77 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $32.53.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Montgomery, you should budget around $10.13 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $22.87, while dry cleaning costs about $17.11.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Montgomery, the median household income is $56,811.