City Comparison

Montgomery vs Toledo

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Montgomery

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

Toledo

Ohio
77
Very Affordable
$128,000
Median Home
$825/mo
Median Rent
$42,200
Median Income

The Verdict

2.6%

Living in Toledo costs 2.6% less than Montgomery. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Montgomery, you would need $73,101 in Toledo.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
49
Montgomery
55
Toledo
Groceries
99
Montgomery
98
Toledo
Utilities
115
Montgomery
92
Toledo
Transportation
92
Montgomery
101
Toledo
Healthcare
78
Montgomery
84
Toledo

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Montgomery has the same purchasing power as $73,101 in Toledo.

Conversely, $75,000 in Toledo equals $76,948 in Montgomery.

Living in Montgomery vs Toledo

Housing Costs

Montgomery's housing index of 49 is lower Toledo's 55, translating to median home prices of $162,000 vs $128,000. The $34,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,208 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Montgomery compared to $825/mo in Toledo, a monthly difference of $175.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Montgomery and 98 in Toledo. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Montgomery vs $466/month in Toledo. 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 115 in Montgomery and 92 in Toledo. Monthly utility bills average approximately $460 in Montgomery vs $368 in Toledo. 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 78 in Montgomery and 84 in Toledo. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $56,800 in Montgomery and $42,200 in Toledo. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $71,899 and $54,805 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 $985/month in Toledo. In Montgomery, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Toledo, median rent of $825/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Utilities, where the gap is 23 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Toledo is 2.6% more affordable overall with an index of 77 vs 79.
A $75,000 salary in Montgomery has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $73,101 in Toledo, based on the cost of living difference.
Montgomery's housing index is 49 with median homes at $162,000, while Toledo's is 55 with median homes at $128,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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