City Comparison

Montgomery vs New Haven

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Montgomery

Alabama
79
Very Affordable
$162,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$56,800
Median Income

New Haven

Connecticut
118
Above Average
$250,000
Median Home
$1,400/mo
Median Rent
$42,158
Median Income

The Verdict

33.1%

Montgomery is 33.1% less expensive than New Haven overall. A household earning $75,000 in Montgomery would need approximately $112,025 in New Haven to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
49
Montgomery
137
New Haven
Groceries
99
Montgomery
106
New Haven
Utilities
115
Montgomery
124
New Haven
Transportation
92
Montgomery
102
New Haven
Healthcare
78
Montgomery
114
New Haven

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Montgomery has the same purchasing power as $112,025 in New Haven.

Conversely, $75,000 in New Haven equals $50,212 in Montgomery.

Living in Montgomery vs New Haven

Housing Costs

Montgomery's housing index of 49 is lower New Haven's 137, translating to median home prices of $162,000 vs $250,000. The $88,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,724 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Montgomery compared to $1,400/mo in New Haven, a monthly difference of $400.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Montgomery and 106 in New Haven. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Montgomery vs $504/month in New Haven. Montgomery offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $408/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 115 in Montgomery and 124 in New Haven. Monthly utility bills average approximately $460 in Montgomery vs $496 in New Haven. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 78 in Montgomery and 114 in New Haven. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 36-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $56,800 in Montgomery and $42,158 in New Haven. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $71,899 and $35,727 respectively. Montgomery residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,325/month to housing in Montgomery vs $984/month in New Haven. In Montgomery, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In New Haven, median rent of $1,400/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 88 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Montgomery is 33.1% more affordable overall with an index of 79 vs 118.
A $75,000 salary in Montgomery has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $112,025 in New Haven, based on the cost of living difference.
Montgomery's housing index is 49 with median homes at $162,000, while New Haven's is 137 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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