City comparison
Montgomery, AL vs Springfield, MO
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Montgomery, AL are 1.2% higher than in Springfield, MO. Someone earning $100,000 in Springfield, MO would need about $101,200 in Montgomery, AL to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $870 a month in Montgomery, AL and $883 in Springfield, MO.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $972 a year higher in Montgomery, AL than in Springfield, MO.
- 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 Montgomery, AL to Springfield, MO changes real buying power by +1.2%, purely from prices.
- Montgomery, AL: price level 89.7 (much cheaper)
- Springfield, MO: price level 88.6 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Montgomery, AL | Springfield, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.7 | 88.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,777 in Springfield | $101,238 in Montgomery |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $870/mo | $883/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,445 | $75,417 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,735 (AL) | $3,763 (MO) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 14% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $44,950 | $45,780 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Montgomery, AL MSA and Springfield, MO HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Montgomery, AL and Springfield, MO.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Montgomery | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 64.3 | 65.6 |
| Goods | 96.4 | 94.2 |
| Utilities | 84.9 | 85.8 |
| Other services | 96.7 | 93.0 |
| Overall | 89.7 | 88.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Montgomery, AL → Springfield, MO
Roughly even
Buying power +1.2%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$972/yr.
73 Strong offer
Springfield, MO → Montgomery, AL
Roughly even
Buying power −1.2%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$972/yr.
65 Fair 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 Montgomery, AL to Springfield, MO at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Montgomery, AL | Springfield, MO | Real change, Montgomery → Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +1.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +1.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +1.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +1.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +1.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Montgomery, AL | Springfield, MO | Springfield pay in Montgomery dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,610 | $49,380 | $49,992 (−16.1%) |
| Software Developers | $110,620 | $102,350 | $103,617 (−6.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,040 | $73,020 | $73,924 (−1.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,570 | $79,370 | $80,353 (+1.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.