Median rent is 44% lower in Montgomery ($1,059/mo vs $1,879/mo). Buying is cheaper in Montgomery, where the median home runs $148,500 versus $879,500. Households earn more in Los Angeles ($80,366 vs $55,687 a year).
City A
Los Angeles, CA
City B
Montgomery, AL
How much would you need to earn in Montgomery, AL to maintain your standard of living from Los Angeles, CA?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
Los Angeles
California
Montgomery
Alabama
👥Population
💰Median Household Income
Annual
🏠Median Gross Rent
Per month
🏡Median Home Value
📊Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
🔑1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🌬️Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
🏛️Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
🧾State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
🎂Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Montgomery — median rent of $1,059/mo versus $1,879/mo in Los Angeles, a 44% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Los Angeles: the median home is $879,500 versus $148,500 in Montgomery — 83% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
California's top income tax rate is 13.30% versus 5.00% in Alabama, so Montgomery is more tax-friendly for high earners. Sales tax is 7.25% in California and 4.00% in Alabama; Montgomery has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Los Angeles
Income tax: 13.30%
Sales tax: 7.25%
Montgomery
Income tax: 5.00%
Sales tax: 4.00%
Montgomery has cleaner air on average: 55.0 AQI (Moderate) compared to 77.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Los Angeles if you prioritize higher median household income ($80,366/yr).
Pick Montgomery if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,059/mo median).
Pick Montgomery if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 55.0).
Pick Montgomery if you prioritize lower state income tax (5.00%).
Is Los Angeles cheaper than Montgomery?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Los Angeles vs Montgomery?
Median rent is $1,879/mo in Los Angeles, CA and $1,059/mo in Montgomery, AL. Montgomery, AL has the lower rent by about 44%.
Which has higher salaries — Los Angeles or Montgomery?
Median household income is $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA and $55,687 in Montgomery, AL. Los Angeles, CA has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Montgomery, AL has better air quality on average: 55.0 AQI versus 77.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Los Angeles or Montgomery?
California's top income tax rate is 13.30% and Alabama's is 5.00%. Montgomery, AL has the lower rate.
What salary do I need in Montgomery to match my Los Angeles income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2024 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology