Montgomery vs Vienna
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Montgomery
Vienna
The Verdict
Montgomery is 10.2% less expensive than Vienna overall. A household earning $75,000 in Montgomery would need approximately $83,544 in Vienna 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 Montgomery has the same purchasing power as $83,544 in Vienna.
Conversely, $75,000 in Vienna equals $67,330 in Montgomery.
Living in Montgomery vs Vienna
Housing Costs
Montgomery's housing index of 49 is lower Vienna's 105, translating to median home prices of $162,000 vs $395,000. The $233,000 difference in home prices means roughly $15,144 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Montgomery compared to $1,275/mo in Vienna, a monthly difference of $275.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 99 in Montgomery and 85 in Vienna. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Montgomery vs $404/month in Vienna. Vienna offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $792/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 115 in Montgomery and 98 in Vienna. Monthly utility bills average approximately $460 in Montgomery vs $392 in Vienna. 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 82 in Vienna. 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 $48,000 in Vienna. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $71,899 and $54,545 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 $1,120/month in Vienna. In Montgomery, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Vienna, median rent of $1,275/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 56 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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