City comparison
Albany, NY vs Montgomery, AL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Albany, NY are 11.0% higher than in Montgomery, AL. Someone earning $100,000 in Montgomery, AL would need about $111,000 in Albany, NY to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,417 a month in Albany, NY versus $870 in Montgomery, AL. On $100,000, that's 23% of take-home pay in Albany, NY and 14% in Montgomery, AL.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,860 a year in NY and $4,735 in AL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −3.1% moving from Albany, NY to Montgomery, AL ($109,810 → $106,437), while prices change by −9.9%. Net effect of the transfer: +7.6% in real buying power.
- Albany, NY: price level 99.6 (about average)
- Montgomery, AL: price level 89.7 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Albany, NY | Montgomery, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 99.6 | 89.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $90,073 in Montgomery | $111,021 in Albany |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,417/mo | $870/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,320 | $74,445 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,860 (NY) | $4,735 (AL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $58,460 | $44,950 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY MSA and Montgomery, AL MSA. Metro areas: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY and Montgomery, AL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Albany | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 102.6 | 64.3 |
| Goods | 99.7 | 96.4 |
| Utilities | 134.0 | 84.9 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 96.7 |
| Overall | 99.6 | 89.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Albany, NY → Montgomery, AL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +11.0%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$125/yr.
100 Strong offer
Montgomery, AL → Albany, NY
Same pay buys less
Buying power −9.9%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax +$125/yr.
38 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Albany, NY is in the Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA pay area; Montgomery, AL is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Albany, NY to Montgomery, AL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Albany, NY | Montgomery, AL | Real change, Albany → Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,678 | $61,722 | +7.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,045 | $74,678 | +7.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,344 | $89,508 | +7.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,810 | $106,437 | +7.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,763 | $125,776 | +7.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Albany, NY | Montgomery, AL | Montgomery pay in Albany dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,240 | $59,610 | $66,180 (−16.5%) |
| Software Developers | $127,910 | $110,620 | $122,812 (−4.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $84,660 | $75,040 | $83,310 (−1.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,970 | $79,570 | $88,340 (−11.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.