Cost of Living: Santa Clarita, CA vs Montgomery, AL (2026)

Santa Clarita

California
197
VS

Montgomery

Alabama
64

Santa Clarita is 208% more expensive than Montgomery.

$2,486/mo ↑ 135%
Median Rent
$1,059/mo ↓ 57%
$119,926/yr ↑ 115%
Median Income
$55,687/yr ↓ 54%
$721,000 ↑ 386%
Home Value
$148,500 ↓ 79%
$2,649/mo ↑ 159%
Owner Costs
$1,023/mo ↓ 61%
229,021
Population
198,440

Tax Comparison

13.3%
Income Tax
5.0%
7.25%
State Sales Tax
4.0%
0.71%
Property Tax
0.41%

Affordability

24.9%
rent-to-income
Affordability
22.8%
rent-to-income

Detailed Comparison

When comparing Santa Clarita, CA and Montgomery, AL, the overall cost of living indices are 197 and 64 respectively (national median = 100). Rent is $1,427/month cheaper in Montgomery, saving renters about $17,124/year.

Median household income is $64,239/year higher in Santa Clarita. Home values also differ significantly — the median in Santa Clarita is $721,000 compared to $148,500 in Montgomery.

Alabama has a lower income tax rate, making Montgomery slightly more tax-friendly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Santa Clarita vs Montgomery — common questions

Is Santa Clarita or Montgomery cheaper to live in?
Based on our cost index, Montgomery is cheaper to live in with an index of 64 compared to 197 (US average = 100).
What is the rent difference between Santa Clarita and Montgomery?
Median rent in Santa Clarita is $2,486/month and in Montgomery it's $1,059/month — a difference of $1,427/month.
Which city has higher income, Santa Clarita or Montgomery?
Median household income is $119,926 in Santa Clarita and $55,687 in Montgomery. Median household income is $64,239/year higher in Santa Clarita.
How do taxes compare between California and Alabama?
California has 13.3% income tax, 7.25% sales tax, and 0.71% property tax. Alabama has 5.0% income tax, 4.0% sales tax, and 0.41% property tax.
Should I move to Santa Clarita or Montgomery?
It depends on your priorities. Santa Clarita has a cost index of 197 with median rent of $2,486/mo, while Montgomery has a cost index of 64 with rent of $1,059/mo. Consider income potential, tax burden, and lifestyle preferences alongside raw cost data.
View Santa Clarita details → View Montgomery details →

More Comparisons

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