Brooklyn vs Montgomery
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Brooklyn
Montgomery
The Verdict
Montgomery is 146.8% less expensive than Brooklyn overall. A household earning $75,000 in Brooklyn would need approximately $30,385 in Montgomery to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Brooklyn has the same purchasing power as $30,385 in Montgomery.
Conversely, $75,000 in Montgomery equals $185,127 in Brooklyn.
Living in Brooklyn vs Montgomery
Housing Costs
Brooklyn's housing index of 325 is higher Montgomery's 49, translating to median home prices of $780,000 vs $162,000. The $618,000 difference in home prices means roughly $40,176 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,900/mo in Brooklyn compared to $1,000/mo in Montgomery, a monthly difference of $1,900.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 108 in Brooklyn and 99 in Montgomery. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $513/month in Brooklyn vs $470/month in Montgomery. Montgomery offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $516/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 135 in Brooklyn and 115 in Montgomery. Monthly utility bills average approximately $540 in Brooklyn vs $460 in Montgomery. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 108 in Brooklyn and 78 in Montgomery. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 30-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $65,294 in Brooklyn and $56,800 in Montgomery. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $33,484 and $71,899 respectively. Montgomery residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,524/month to housing in Brooklyn vs $1,325/month in Montgomery. In Brooklyn, median rent of $2,900/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Montgomery, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 276 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases