Head to head
Mobile, AL vs Montgomery, AL
Montgomery is cheaper — estimated essentials for a single person run about $30/mo less, and living comfortably there takes roughly $1,000 less in annual salary (taxes included).
It flips for a family. For two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child, Mobile is the cheaper of the two — rent scales to household size using each city's own bedroom spread, and childcare varies even more sharply between cities than rent does.
| Metric | Mobile58 | Montgomery63 |
|---|---|---|
| Est. monthly cost (single) | $3,572 | $3,542 |
| Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare) | $7,815 | $7,971 |
| Salary for comfort | $65,500/yr | $64,500/yr |
| Typical rent | $1,083 | $1,016 |
| Median home value | $170,300 | $148,500 |
| Median household income | $51,090 | $55,687 |
| Unemployment | 4.7% | 4.3% |
| Housing score | 75 | 93 |
| Jobs score | 30 | 38 |
| Safety score | 30 | 30 |
| Climate score | 92 | 100 |
| Amenities score | 21 | 17 |
| Population | 185.1K | 198.4K |
| Summer high / winter low | 90° / 40° | 92° / 36° |
Fit scores use the reference profile (single, $6,700/mo gross, default weights). Green marks the better value per row.
Mobile, AL
Montgomery, AL