United States • North America
Cost of Living in Montgomery
A single person typically spends about ~$2,300/month in Montgomery, United States (modelled estimate from stored cost inputs).
What does it cost to live in Montgomery? Modelled monthly estimates: rent ~$1,100, food ~$390, total ~$2,300/mo for a single person (rounded to the nearest $50; exact line items below). Budgets for singles, couples and families.
Across the six core spending categories, Montgomery averages roughly $2,285 a month for a single resident — equivalent to $76/day.
Compared with New York City as the benchmark (100), Montgomery's cost index is 37, so $1,000 here buys roughly what ~$2,700 would in NYC.
What sets Montgomery apart: Rent runs about 37% below the North America average ($1,100 vs $1,755/month).
Montgomery Monthly Cost Breakdown (Single Person)
| Category | Cost (USD) | % of total |
|---|---|---|
| 🏠 Rent (1-bed) | $1,100 | 48% |
| 🍽️ Food & groceries | $385 | 17% |
| 🚌 Transport | $55 | 2% |
| 💡 Utilities | $160 | 7% |
| 🏥 Healthcare | $350 | 15% |
| 🎉 Leisure | $235 | 10% |
| Total monthly | $2,285 | 100% |
Where Montgomery Ranks
Montgomery comes in at position 17/177 on the United States affordability table — neither the cheapest nor the priciest urban option in the country.
Globally, Montgomery is the 429th cheapest of 744 tracked cities, and the 57th cheapest of 270 in North America (regional average: $2,979/month).
Rent: The Number That Matters Most
A one-bedroom rental costs around $1,100 per month, which is about 48% of total monthly outgoings — the single biggest line item in nearly every household.
Household Cost Estimates
| Household | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Single person | $2,285 | $27,420 |
| Couple (shared rent) | $3,200 | $38,400 |
| Family of four | $4,570 | $54,840 |
How to Interpret Montgomery's Cost Profile
The real cost signal in Montgomery comes from the mix of fixed and flexible expenses. Housing sets the floor, groceries and transport shape day-to-day comfort, and leisure determines whether the city feels manageable or restrictive on a normal income.
Against the New York City baseline of 100, Montgomery scores 37. The annual single-person cost is about $27,420, while a couple should expect around $3,200/month and a family of four around $4,570/month. Those household figures are important because shared rent can make a city look far more affordable for couples than for solo movers.
Budget Pressure Points
The largest monthly line item is Rent at $1,100, equal to 48% of the total. The second-largest is Food & groceries at $385. Rent is usually the largest swing factor between neighborhoods and household types, while food & groceries is the daily spending category most affected by cooking habits and dining out. Together they explain why the same salary can feel comfortable in one city and tight in another.
- Fixed monthly floor: rent, utilities, healthcare, transport, and groceries total about $2,050 before leisure or discretionary spending.
- Flexible monthly room: leisure and optional lifestyle spending are roughly $235, which is the first place to adjust if your real costs run high.
- Rent sensitivity: every 10% change in rent moves the total budget by about $110/month.
- Income comfort line: modest living starts near $3,167/month gross, while comfortable living is closer to $4,917/month gross.
Local and Regional Ranking Context
Within United States, Montgomery ranks 17th cheapest out of 177 tracked cities. It is 30% below the country average of $3,263/month. Regionally, it ranks 57th of 270 in North America and sits 23% below the regional average of $2,979.
This ranking context is often more useful than the raw total. A city can be expensive globally but reasonable for its country, or cheap globally but still one of the higher-cost places in its local market. Montgomery should therefore be compared both against nearby alternatives and against your personal income target.
Cities to Compare Before Deciding
Before treating Montgomery as a final choice, compare it with cities that sit close to the same monthly budget. Similar totals reveal whether you are paying for housing, transport convenience, food prices, or a broader lifestyle premium.
- Fort Wayne, United States — $2,280/month, very close to Montgomery.
- Mobile, United States — $2,290/month, very close to Montgomery.
- Lubbock, United States — $2,275/month, very close to Montgomery.
- Amarillo, United States — $2,275/month, very close to Montgomery.
Who Montgomery Fits Best
Montgomery works best for people whose income clears the fixed-cost floor with enough margin for savings. If your net income only matches the $2,285 monthly estimate, the city is technically possible but fragile: one rent increase, medical bill, or travel month can erase the buffer. If your net income is at least 25–35% above the estimate, the city becomes easier to manage because food, transport, and leisure choices stop competing with rent.
Use this page as a planning snapshot, not a guarantee. Neighborhood choice, lease terms, household size, insurance, commuting patterns, and how often you eat out can move the final number meaningfully. The safest next step is to compare Montgomery with at least two nearby alternatives, then test your salary or budget against the full monthly breakdown rather than relying on the headline total alone.
Montgomery Cost Fingerprint
Montgomery is middle-of-the-pack on global cost, driven mostly by healthcare (+312% vs world median). A single person needs roughly $2,285/mo to live here comfortably; a couple $3,200/mo. Rent stays a manageable 22% of a comfortable local salary.
What pushes costs up: healthcare sit clearly above the global median in our dataset.
Rent Bands by Area Type
| Area type | 1-bed rent/month | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Budget picks (outer districts) | $825 – $990/mo | Longer commute, older buildings, but the same city. Under this model, rent here is roughly 10–25% below the city's typical modeled rent of $1,100. Best for students, remote workers with flexible schedules, or anyone happy to trade a bus ride for savings. |
| Mid-range (typical residential) | $990 – $1,210/mo | Where most locals actually live: solid amenities, decent transit, mixed neighborhoods. This is what the headline rent number in our tables represents. |
| Premium (central / expat) | $1,265 – $1,375/mo | Walkable central districts, newer builds, popular with expats and high earners. Under this model, rent here is roughly 15–25% above the city's typical modeled rent of $1,100. |
What the Numbers Mean in Practice
On a comfortable local income, rent absorbs about 22% of gross pay, leaving roughly $2,632/month before tax after the full modelled monthly budget. Measured in working time, a month's rent costs about 36 hours of work, a monthly transit pass about 2 hours, a café coffee about 3 minutes, and a fast-food combo about 4 minutes. A remote worker on a $4,000/month contract would keep about $1,715 per month here after the same full budget, and a retired couple should plan for roughly $3,520/month.
Montgomery ranks 429 of 744 tracked cities by monthly cost for a single person, placing it in the 58th percentile globally.
Who Montgomery Works Well For
- Remote workers on USD income — A $4,000/mo remote salary leaves roughly $1,715/mo after essentials — real savings, not survival.
- First-time movers on a local salary — Rent takes only 22% of a comfortable local income — the healthy threshold most planners recommend.
- Car-free lifestyles — Public transport costs about $55/mo — most residents genuinely don't need a car.
Who Should Think Twice
- Anyone without employer health cover — Healthcare runs $350/mo. Without an employer or public plan, this is a serious line item.
Costs Newcomers Underestimate
- healthcare costs 312% more than the world median — this is the single line item newcomers most often underestimate in Montgomery.
What Things Actually Cost in Montgomery — 34+ Everyday Prices
Prices are shown in USD so they can be compared across cities, with a realistic low–high range instead of false point precision. Each item is anchored to a stored New York City reference price and scaled by Montgomery's cost index of 37 (NYC = 100). Treat them as planning estimates, not receipts.
Groceries in Montgomery
| Item | Typical | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Milk (1 L / 1 qt) | $0.52 | $0.41–$0.62 |
| Loaf of fresh bread (500 g) | $1.48 | $1.18–$1.78 |
| Dozen eggs | $2.04 | $1.63–$2.44 |
| Chicken breast (1 kg) | $4.44 | $3.55–$5.33 |
| Apples (1 kg) | $2.04 | $1.63–$2.44 |
| Tomatoes (1 kg) | $1.85 | $1.48–$2.22 |
| Potatoes (1 kg) | $1.04 | $0.83–$1.24 |
| Rice, white (1 kg) | $1.78 | $1.42–$2.13 |
| Local beer, supermarket (0.5 L) | $1.29 | $1.04–$1.55 |
| Bottle of mid-range wine | $5.55 | $4.44–$6.66 |
Restaurants & drinks in Montgomery
| Item | Typical | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Meal at inexpensive restaurant | $8.14 | $6.51–$9.77 |
| Three-course dinner for two, mid-range | $40.7 | $32.6–$48.8 |
| Combo meal at fast food (Big Mac meal) | $4.81 | $3.85–$5.77 |
| Cappuccino, café | $2.04 | $1.63–$2.44 |
| Beer at a pub (0.5 L) | $3.33 | $2.66–$4.00 |
| Cocktail in a downtown bar | $5.92 | $4.74–$7.10 |
Transport in Montgomery
| Item | Typical | Range |
|---|---|---|
| One-way local transit ticket | $1.07 | $0.86–$1.29 |
| Monthly public-transit pass | $48.8 | $39.1–$58.6 |
| Taxi, 5 km / ~3 mi ride | $6.66 | $5.33–$7.99 |
| Gasoline (1 L) | $0.37 | $0.30–$0.44 |
| Uber / rideshare, average ride | $8.14 | $6.51–$9.77 |
Personal care & health in Montgomery
| Item | Typical | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Short doctor's visit (private, 15 min) | $48.1 | $38.5–$57.7 |
| Cold medicine (6 days) | $4.44 | $3.55–$5.33 |
| Toothpaste (standard tube) | $1.29 | $1.04–$1.55 |
| Shampoo (400 ml) | $2.22 | $1.78–$2.66 |
| Standard men's haircut | $12.9 | $10.4–$15.5 |
Lifestyle & entertainment in Montgomery
| Item | Typical | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Cinema ticket, one seat | $6.29 | $5.03–$7.55 |
| Monthly gym membership | $31.4 | $25.2–$37.7 |
| 1 pair of jeans (Levi's 501 or similar) | $22.2 | $17.8–$26.6 |
| 1 pair of running shoes (Nike / Adidas) | $35.1 | $28.1–$42.2 |
| Streaming subscription, monthly | $5.92 | $4.74–$7.10 |
Home services in Montgomery
| Item | Typical | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Home internet, 100 Mbps unlimited | $24.1 | $19.2–$28.9 |
| Mobile plan, 10 GB data | $14.8 | $11.8–$17.8 |
| Utilities (elec + heat + water), 85 m² for 2 | $77.7 | $62.2–$93.2 |
Researched and written by The SnapCol Team — we maintain the SnapCostOfLiving dataset and review every Montgomery figure against our own category model before publishing.
These figures are standardized planning estimates stored and maintained by SnapCostOfLiving and designed for consistent comparison between cities. The core dataset was created and materially recalibrated in December 2025, and further cities were added during 2026. Complete original-source provenance is not preserved for each individual value, so treat the figures as planning estimates rather than live or measured prices.