City comparison
Canton, OH vs Montgomery, AL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Canton, OH (89.4) and Montgomery, AL (89.7, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Canton, OH goes as far as $100,300 in Montgomery, AL.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $846 a month in Canton, OH and $870 in Montgomery, AL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,767 a year higher in Montgomery, AL than in Canton, OH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.2% moving from Canton, OH to Montgomery, AL ($111,138 → $106,437), while prices change by +0.3%. Net effect of the transfer: −4.5% in real buying power.
- Canton, OH: price level 89.4 (much cheaper)
- 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
| Canton, OH | Montgomery, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.4 | 89.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,309 in Montgomery | $99,692 in Canton |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $846/mo | $870/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $77,212 | $74,445 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $1,968 (OH) | $4,735 (AL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 13% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,810 | $44,950 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Canton-Massillon, OH MSA and Montgomery, AL MSA. Metro areas: Canton-Massillon, OH and Montgomery, AL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Canton | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 58.1 | 64.3 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 96.4 |
| Utilities | 96.9 | 84.9 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 96.7 |
| Overall | 89.4 | 89.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Canton, OH → Montgomery, AL
Roughly even
Buying power −0.3%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$2,767/yr.
68 Fair offer
Montgomery, AL → Canton, OH
Roughly even
Buying power +0.3%; rent takes 13% of take-home; state tax −$2,767/yr.
70 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Canton, OH is in the Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA pay area; Montgomery, AL is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Canton, OH to Montgomery, AL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Canton, OH | Montgomery, AL | Real change, Canton → Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,448 | $61,722 | −4.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,977 | $74,678 | −4.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,461 | $89,508 | −4.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,138 | $106,437 | −4.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,331 | $125,776 | −4.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Canton, OH | Montgomery, AL | Montgomery pay in Canton dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $77,940 | $59,610 | $59,427 (−23.8%) |
| Software Developers | $105,500 | $110,620 | $110,280 (+4.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $72,170 | $75,040 | $74,809 (+3.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,610 | $79,570 | $79,325 (−0.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.