Montgomery, AL Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Montgomery, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Montgomery →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Montgomery is a city of roughly 199,819 in Alabama. The median household there earns $54,166 annually, which runs below the multi-city median income (-25%).
The typical home in Montgomery is worth $141,900, below the multi-city median (-57%), while the typical renter pays $1,026 a month. Either path — buying or renting — deserves a look at today's rates before deciding.
At roughly 2.6 times median household income, home values in Montgomery are on the affordable end compared to the cities we cover. Montgomery's home prices climbed 1.42% over the past year — steady appreciation without signs of overheating. FEMA rates Montgomery's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively Moderate — comparatively low, which tends to keep home insurance costs in check.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,026/mo in Montgomery would take 22.7% of your income.
$328/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($141,900) would take 16.8% of your income toward principal & interest.
$506/mo under the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Montgomery
Median home value is $141,900 and median gross rent is $1,026/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Montgomery rose 1.42% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,016/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Montgomery's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively Moderate. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Montgomery reported a violent crime rate of 644.8 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Montgomery
Planning a move to Montgomery? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Montgomery, AL?
- The US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022) puts Montgomery's median home value at $141,900, median rent at $1,026/month, and median household income at $54,166.
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Montgomery?
- To keep rent under the commonly recommended 30% of income in Montgomery, where median rent runs $1,026/month, you'd want to earn about $41,040 annually. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Montgomery.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Montgomery?
- Comparing the two in Montgomery: renting at the median $1,026/month needs about $41,040 in annual income (30% guideline), while buying the $141,900 median home needs roughly $32,466 a year in principal-and-interest, assuming 20% down and a 30-year fixed loan at current rates.
- Is Montgomery safe?
- FBI data puts Montgomery's violent crime rate at 644.8 per 100,000 residents for 2025 — a useful benchmark alongside other cities you're weighing.
See the full salary breakdown for Montgomery →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Montgomery's.