Champaign vs Montgomery
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Champaign
Montgomery
The Verdict
Montgomery is 2.5% less expensive than Champaign overall. A household earning $75,000 in Champaign would need approximately $73,148 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 Champaign has the same purchasing power as $73,148 in Montgomery.
Conversely, $75,000 in Montgomery equals $76,899 in Champaign.
Living in Champaign vs Montgomery
Housing Costs
Champaign's housing index of 83 is higher Montgomery's 49, translating to median home prices of $215,000 vs $162,000. The $53,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,444 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,100/mo in Champaign compared to $1,000/mo in Montgomery, a monthly difference of $100.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 98 in Champaign and 99 in Montgomery. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Champaign vs $470/month in Montgomery. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 106 in Champaign and 115 in Montgomery. Monthly utility bills average approximately $424 in Champaign vs $460 in Montgomery. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 90 in Champaign and 78 in Montgomery. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 12-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $56,100 in Champaign and $56,800 in Montgomery. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $69,259 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 $1,309/month to housing in Champaign vs $1,325/month in Montgomery. In Champaign, median rent of $1,100/mo fits within this budget. 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 34 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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