CostIndexUSA

Columbus, GA vs Montgomery, AL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostGA
Columbus
89.3
overall index
$1,250/mo rent
AL
Montgomery
89.7
overall index
$1,375/mo rent

Columbus and Montgomery have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+5.1%
Columbus
61.2
Montgomery
64.3
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Columbus
96.3
Montgomery
96.4
🚗 Transportation1.9%
Columbus
103.5
Montgomery
101.5
🏥 Healthcare1.8%
Columbus
93.6
Montgomery
91.9
Utilities5.4%
Columbus
89.7
Montgomery
84.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Columbus to see what you'd need to earn in Montgomery to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Montgomery, AL
$80,400
$400 more needed in Montgomery

Formula: salary × (89.7 ÷ 89.3) = salary × 1.0045. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Columbus, GA

Median Home Price
$200,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,250
Housing Index
61.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.3×

Montgomery, AL

Median Home Price
$205,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,375
Housing Index
64.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.4×

Montgomery has 5.1% higher housing costs compared to Columbus.

Income & Job Market

Columbus, GA

Median Household Income
$54,700
Per Capita Income
$31,200
Unemployment Rate
5.3%
Population
206,922
Top Industries
MilitaryHealthcareManufacturingGovernmentRetail

Montgomery, AL

Median Household Income
$62,400
Per Capita Income
$35,600
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
199,518
Top Industries
GovernmentMilitaryHealthcareManufacturingEducation

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Columbus, GA
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Montgomery, AL
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.