City comparison
Eugene, OR vs Montgomery, AL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Eugene, OR are 13.3% higher than in Montgomery, AL. Someone earning $100,000 in Montgomery, AL would need about $113,300 in Eugene, OR to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,286 a month in Eugene, OR versus $870 in Montgomery, AL. On $100,000, that's 22% of take-home pay in Eugene, OR and 14% in Montgomery, AL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,185 a year higher in Eugene, OR than in Montgomery, AL.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Eugene, OR to Montgomery, AL changes real buying power by +13.3%, purely from prices.
- Eugene, OR: price level 101.6 (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
| Eugene, OR | Montgomery, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.6 | 89.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $88,297 in Montgomery | $113,253 in Eugene |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,286/mo | $870/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $71,260 | $74,445 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $7,920 (OR) | $4,735 (AL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,680 | $44,950 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR MSA and Montgomery, AL MSA. Metro areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR and Montgomery, AL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Eugene | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 98.3 | 64.3 |
| Goods | 105.3 | 96.4 |
| Utilities | 102.5 | 84.9 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 96.7 |
| Overall | 101.6 | 89.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Eugene, OR → Montgomery, AL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +13.3%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$3,185/yr.
100 Strong offer
Montgomery, AL → Eugene, OR
Same pay buys less
Buying power −11.7%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$3,185/yr.
38 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Eugene, OR to Montgomery, AL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Eugene, OR | Montgomery, AL | Real change, Eugene → Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +13.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +13.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +13.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +13.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +13.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Eugene, OR | Montgomery, AL | Montgomery pay in Eugene dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $64,260 | $59,610 | $67,510 (+5.1%) |
| Software Developers | $121,050 | $110,620 | $125,281 (+3.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,930 | $75,040 | $84,985 (+6.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $113,720 | $79,570 | $90,116 (−20.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.