Montgomery, AL vs Huntsville, AL: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Huntsville, AL is 3.8% more expensive than Montgomery, AL (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Montgomery works out to about $77,800 in Huntsville, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 21.1% more in Huntsville. Goods are 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,387 a month in Huntsville and $1,383 in Montgomery, nearly the same (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $314,000 in Huntsville and $212,000 in Montgomery.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (2.8%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 21.1% higher in Huntsville than in Montgomery
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Montgomery, AL
- Huntsville, AL
All items Montgomery, AL: 89.7 Huntsville, AL: 93.1
Goods Montgomery, AL: 96.4 Huntsville, AL: 96.4
Housing (rents) Montgomery, AL: 64.3 Huntsville, AL: 77.9
Utilities Montgomery, AL: 84.9 Huntsville, AL: 83.9
Other services Montgomery, AL: 96.7 Huntsville, AL: 96.7
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Montgomery, AL | Huntsville, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 89.7 | 93.1 |
| Goods | 96.4 | 96.4 |
| Housing (rents) | 64.3 | 77.9 |
| Utilities | 84.9 | 83.9 |
| Other services | 96.7 | 96.7 |
| Category | Montgomery | Huntsville | Huntsville vs Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 89.7 | 93.1 | +3.8% |
| Goods | 96.4 | 96.4 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 64.3 | 77.9 | +21.1% |
| Utilities | 84.9 | 83.9 | −1.1% |
| Other services | 96.7 | 96.7 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,383 | $1,387 | +0.3% |
| Typical home value | $212,000 | $314,000 | +47.6% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Montgomery | $75,000 | $77,800 | +3.8% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Montgomery and Huntsville has widened since 2008: 0.8 points then, 3.4 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Montgomery, AL
- Huntsville, AL
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Montgomery, AL | Huntsville, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 91.3 | 92.1 |
| 2009 | 90.8 | 91.2 |
| 2010 | 92.4 | 92.6 |
| 2011 | 91.1 | 93.8 |
| 2012 | 93.3 | 94.0 |
| 2013 | 91.4 | 93.6 |
| 2014 | 90.7 | 92.7 |
| 2015 | 90.7 | 92.7 |
| 2016 | 93.1 | 93.6 |
| 2017 | 92.8 | 94.0 |
| 2018 | 88.4 | 89.8 |
| 2019 | 88.8 | 91.2 |
| 2020 | 87.5 | 90.7 |
| 2021 | 88.5 | 91.5 |
| 2022 | 89.8 | 92.8 |
| 2023 | 89.9 | 93.8 |
| 2024 | 89.7 | 93.1 |
Goods
- Montgomery, AL
- Huntsville, AL
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Montgomery, AL | Huntsville, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 96.7 | 96.7 |
| 2009 | 94.8 | 94.8 |
| 2010 | 96.5 | 96.5 |
| 2011 | 96.4 | 96.5 |
| 2012 | 96.5 | 96.7 |
| 2013 | 97.1 | 97.2 |
| 2014 | 97.6 | 97.8 |
| 2015 | 96.4 | 96.5 |
| 2016 | 97.1 | 97.2 |
| 2017 | 96.8 | 97.1 |
| 2018 | 92.5 | 92.5 |
| 2019 | 94.6 | 94.6 |
| 2020 | 94.3 | 94.3 |
| 2021 | 93.9 | 93.9 |
| 2022 | 94.7 | 94.7 |
| 2023 | 94.6 | 94.6 |
| 2024 | 96.4 | 96.4 |
Housing (rents)
- Montgomery, AL
- Huntsville, AL
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Montgomery, AL | Huntsville, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 67.1 | 68.6 |
| 2009 | 69.5 | 65.3 |
| 2010 | 68.1 | 66.0 |
| 2011 | 61.4 | 69.9 |
| 2012 | 69.8 | 69.8 |
| 2013 | 63.1 | 69.8 |
| 2014 | 60.5 | 64.1 |
| 2015 | 60.4 | 65.1 |
| 2016 | 66.9 | 65.3 |
| 2017 | 68.9 | 69.8 |
| 2018 | 63.9 | 67.3 |
| 2019 | 63.0 | 68.8 |
| 2020 | 60.0 | 70.5 |
| 2021 | 64.7 | 72.9 |
| 2022 | 65.3 | 76.8 |
| 2023 | 65.7 | 81.2 |
| 2024 | 64.3 | 77.9 |
Utilities
- Montgomery, AL
- Huntsville, AL
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Montgomery, AL | Huntsville, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 93.2 | 91.9 |
| 2009 | 94.1 | 91.7 |
| 2010 | 95.9 | 93.9 |
| 2011 | 95.3 | 93.9 |
| 2012 | 96.0 | 94.1 |
| 2013 | 94.9 | 92.1 |
| 2014 | 95.3 | 92.5 |
| 2015 | 94.6 | 92.6 |
| 2016 | 93.9 | 92.5 |
| 2017 | 92.3 | 90.9 |
| 2018 | 88.6 | 87.3 |
| 2019 | 85.4 | 86.1 |
| 2020 | 84.4 | 84.4 |
| 2021 | 86.0 | 86.3 |
| 2022 | 88.2 | 87.8 |
| 2023 | 90.2 | 89.4 |
| 2024 | 84.9 | 83.9 |
Other services
- Montgomery, AL
- Huntsville, AL
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Montgomery, AL | Huntsville, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.5 | 98.6 |
| 2009 | 98.0 | 98.2 |
| 2010 | 99.9 | 100.0 |
| 2011 | 101.3 | 101.5 |
| 2012 | 101.7 | 101.8 |
| 2013 | 100.5 | 100.6 |
| 2014 | 100.3 | 100.4 |
| 2015 | 100.8 | 101.0 |
| 2016 | 102.0 | 102.2 |
| 2017 | 100.5 | 100.8 |
| 2018 | 95.9 | 95.9 |
| 2019 | 96.9 | 96.9 |
| 2020 | 96.5 | 96.5 |
| 2021 | 96.1 | 96.1 |
| 2022 | 97.1 | 97.1 |
| 2023 | 98.2 | 98.2 |
| 2024 | 96.7 | 96.7 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,387 in Huntsville vs $1,383 in Montgomery
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Montgomery, AL
- Huntsville, AL
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Montgomery, AL | Huntsville, AL | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $865 | $758 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $864 | $765 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $872 | $762 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $863 | $766 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $867 | $776 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $873 | $782 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $870 | $785 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $874 | $783 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $881 | $793 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $885 | $811 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $890 | $813 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $886 | $817 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $900 | $833 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $906 | $852 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $905 | $867 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $905 | $878 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $910 | $886 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $929 | $913 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $926 | $943 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $934 | $951 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $942 | $984 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $951 | $1,019 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $967 | $1,070 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $990 | $1,075 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $998 | $1,121 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,035 | $1,186 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,082 | $1,227 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,113 | $1,249 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,141 | $1,265 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,163 | $1,304 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,168 | $1,303 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,163 | $1,296 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,187 | $1,330 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,212 | $1,349 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,221 | $1,335 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,222 | $1,343 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,253 | $1,339 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,270 | $1,354 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,290 | $1,357 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,288 | $1,348 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,310 | $1,342 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,329 | $1,357 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,341 | $1,351 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,340 | $1,359 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,355 | $1,378 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,373 | $1,369 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,383 | $1,387 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $314,000 in Huntsville vs $212,000 in Montgomery
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Montgomery, AL
- Huntsville, AL
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Montgomery, AL | Huntsville, AL | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $134K | $168K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $135K | $169K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $135K | $168K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $135K | $169K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $135K | $171K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $136K | $173K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $136K | $173K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $136K | $175K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $136K | $177K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $136K | $178K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $137K | $177K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $138K | $180K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $138K | $183K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $139K | $185K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $140K | $186K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $140K | $189K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $145K | $193K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $146K | $196K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $147K | $199K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $148K | $204K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $151K | $211K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $152K | $216K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $153K | $223K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $158K | $233K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $161K | $245K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $166K | $261K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $172K | $274K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $177K | $284K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $182K | $297K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $189K | $311K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $192K | $312K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $193K | $308K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $192K | $307K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $196K | $310K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $196K | $311K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $197K | $311K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $198K | $311K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $201K | $312K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $202K | $310K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $203K | $310K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $204K | $311K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $204K | $310K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $205K | $310K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $208K | $311K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $210K | $313K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $211K | $313K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $212K | $314K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.