Cost of Living in Montgomery, AL
Montgomery, AL — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Price level
89.7
U.S. average = 100 · #294 of 387
Median wage
$44,950
all jobs · $3,026/mo take-home
1-bedroom rent
$870
HUD fair market rent
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Montgomery, AL to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
Salary needed to keep your lifestyle
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Prices in Montgomery, AL vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 89.7 | −10.3% |
| Housing | 64.3 | −35.7% |
| Goods | 96.4 | −3.6% |
| Utilities | 84.9 | −15.1% |
| Other services | 96.7 | −3.3% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Montgomery, AL
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $860 | $34,400/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $870 | $34,800/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,016 | $40,640/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,304 | $52,160/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,537 | $61,480/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Take-home pay in Montgomery, AL
Your take-home pay
$36,315
per year · effective tax rate 19.2%
$3,026Monthly
$1,513Twice a month
$1,397Every 2 weeks
$17.46Hourly
- Federal income tax$3,214
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,787
- Medicare (1.45%)$652
- Alabama income tax$1,983
- Take-home pay$36,315
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in Montgomery, AL
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Frequently asked questions
Is Montgomery, AL expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Montgomery, AL metro area are 89.7% of the U.S. average, with housing at 64.3%. It is the #294 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Montgomery, AL?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $53,809 in Montgomery, AL (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $44,950.
How much is rent in Montgomery, AL?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Montgomery, AL are $860 for a studio, $870 for one bedroom, $1,016 for two bedrooms and $1,304 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
All salaries in Montgomery, AL
Management Occupations
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $134,810
- Financial Manager — $131,570
- General and Operations Manager — $107,980
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $96,820
- Construction Manager — $94,650
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $89,320
- Accountant and Auditor — $75,040
- Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators — $71,710
- Buyer and Purchasing Agent — $65,060
- Human Resources Specialist — $64,140
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $61,240
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Software Developer — $110,620
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $109,300
- Database Administrator — $95,370
- Computer User Support Specialist — $49,940
Architecture and Engineering Occupations
- Civil Engineer — $97,470
- Industrial Engineer — $79,480
Community and Social Service Occupations
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers — $50,240
Legal Occupations
- Lawyer — $125,290
- Paralegal and Legal Assistant — $48,350
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $61,980
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $61,720
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $59,610
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education — $28,540
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $24,030
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $79,570
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $55,410
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $48,780
- Pharmacy Technician — $39,370
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Medical Assistant — $35,810
- Nursing Assistant — $35,210
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $26,660
Protective Service Occupations
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $55,360
- Firefighter — $48,780
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $48,490
- Security Guard — $31,000
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $36,780
- Cooks, Restaurant — $33,070
- Cooks, Fast Food — $27,650
- Food Preparation Worker — $27,420
- Bartender — $26,830
- Waiter and Waitress — $26,360
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $23,080
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $22,960
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $35,650
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $30,450
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $27,370
Personal Care and Service Occupations
- Amusement and Recreation Attendant — $24,980
- Childcare Worker — $22,720
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $63,020
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $51,490
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $45,480
- Counter and Rental Clerk — $34,630
- Parts Salesperson — $34,220
- Retail Salesperson — $29,650
- Cashier — $28,330
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $60,100
- Postal Service Mail Carrier — $55,930
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $43,710
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $40,260
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks — $38,170
- Teller — $38,070
- Customer Service Representative — $36,960
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $36,500
- Office Clerks, General — $33,050
- Receptionist and Information Clerk — $30,740
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $61,740
- Electrician — $49,910
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $44,860
- Construction Laborer — $36,630
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers — $69,950
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic — $62,700
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers — $48,680
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic — $47,030
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $38,660
Production Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $76,610
- Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers — $48,680
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $47,880
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $46,990
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $45,380
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $44,830
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $57,110
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $54,860
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $41,080
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $37,370
- Light Truck Driver — $36,770
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $36,010
- Stocker and Order Filler — $34,370
- Bus Drivers, School — $17,490