City Comparison

Montgomery vs Toronto

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Montgomery

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

Toronto

Canada
93
Below Average
$615,000
Median Home
$1,825/mo
Median Rent
$55,000
Median Income

The Verdict

15.1%

Montgomery is 15.1% less expensive than Toronto overall. A household earning $75,000 in Montgomery would need approximately $88,291 in Toronto to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
49
Montgomery
132
Toronto
Groceries
99
Montgomery
88
Toronto
Utilities
115
Montgomery
85
Toronto
Transportation
92
Montgomery
98
Toronto
Healthcare
78
Montgomery
72
Toronto

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Montgomery has the same purchasing power as $88,291 in Toronto.

Conversely, $75,000 in Toronto equals $63,710 in Montgomery.

Living in Montgomery vs Toronto

Housing Costs

Montgomery's housing index of 49 is lower Toronto's 132, translating to median home prices of $162,000 vs $615,000. The $453,000 difference in home prices means roughly $29,448 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Montgomery compared to $1,825/mo in Toronto, a monthly difference of $825.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Montgomery and 88 in Toronto. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Montgomery vs $418/month in Toronto. Toronto offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $624/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 115 in Montgomery and 85 in Toronto. Monthly utility bills average approximately $460 in Montgomery vs $340 in Toronto. 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 72 in Toronto. 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 $55,000 in Toronto. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $71,899 and $59,140 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 $1,283/month in Toronto. In Montgomery, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Toronto, median rent of $1,825/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 83 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Montgomery is 15.1% more affordable overall with an index of 79 vs 93.
A $75,000 salary in Montgomery has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $88,291 in Toronto, based on the cost of living difference.
Montgomery's housing index is 49 with median homes at $162,000, while Toronto's is 132 with median homes at $615,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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