City comparison
Akron, OH vs Montgomery, AL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Akron, OH are 4.1% higher than in Montgomery, AL. Someone earning $100,000 in Montgomery, AL would need about $104,100 in Akron, OH to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $985 a month in Akron, OH versus $870 in Montgomery, AL. On $100,000, that's 15% of take-home pay in Akron, OH and 14% in Montgomery, AL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,767 a year higher in Montgomery, AL than in Akron, OH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.2% moving from Akron, OH to Montgomery, AL ($111,138 → $106,437), while prices change by −3.9%. Net effect of the transfer: −0.3% in real buying power.
- Akron, OH: price level 93.4 (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
| Akron, OH | Montgomery, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 93.4 | 89.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $96,050 in Montgomery | $104,112 in Akron |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $985/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 | 15% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,840 | $44,950 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Akron, OH MSA and Montgomery, AL MSA. Metro areas: Akron, OH and Montgomery, AL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Akron | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 76.8 | 64.3 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 96.4 |
| Utilities | 96.4 | 84.9 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 96.7 |
| Overall | 93.4 | 89.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Akron, OH → Montgomery, AL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.1%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$2,767/yr.
82 Strong offer
Montgomery, AL → Akron, OH
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.9%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$2,767/yr.
56 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Akron, 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 Akron, OH to Montgomery, AL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Akron, OH | Montgomery, AL | Real change, Akron → Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,448 | $61,722 | −0.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,977 | $74,678 | −0.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,461 | $89,508 | −0.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,138 | $106,437 | −0.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,331 | $125,776 | −0.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Akron, OH | Montgomery, AL | Montgomery pay in Akron dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,560 | $59,610 | $62,061 (−21.0%) |
| Software Developers | $105,430 | $110,620 | $115,169 (+9.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,540 | $75,040 | $78,126 (−0.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $80,770 | $79,570 | $82,842 (+2.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.