Example household · Montgomery, AL · $83,730 · same pay · 1 adult

Homewood Suites by Hilton Tuscaloosa Downtown

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Montgomery vs Tuscaloosa

Montgomery and Tuscaloosa

Photo: Editor B / Wikimedia, CC BY 2.0

Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.

Same pay in both cities. One adult, one bedroom.

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So you know: homicide deaths in Tuscaloosa are above the US rate in this release, 9.4 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).

Why people look at Montgomery to Tuscaloosa

In 2022-2023, 70 households filed a move from Montgomery to Tuscaloosa (about 132 people, average adjusted gross income $56,071). 52 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.

A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,121 in Montgomery and $930 in Tuscaloosa. Montgomery has a state tax on wages. Tuscaloosa has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Tuscaloosa is 84% of the national level for the same work, against 88% in Montgomery.

Tuscaloosa averages 223 sunny days, with July highs around 90°F and January nights around 38°F. Montgomery is 229 sunny days, 92°F in July, 41°F in January. Commutes average 24 minutes in Tuscaloosa and 24 in Montgomery.

These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.

How we figure this

Who already made this move

In 2022-2023, 70 households moved Montgomery → Tuscaloosa (about 132 people, average AGI $56,071). 52 households went the other way.

Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.

The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Montgomery and Tuscaloosa changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.

What the move itself costs

About 114 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.

Full-service mover
$1,650–$3,100
Container or pod
$1,100–$2,050
Rent a truck
$400–$750

Movers in Tuscaloosa and how to hire one →

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Questions

Is Tuscaloosa cheaper than Montgomery after tax and rent?

Yes. Tuscaloosa leaves about $191 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,121 in Montgomery and $930 in Tuscaloosa.

Does Tuscaloosa have state income tax?

Tuscaloosa is in Alabama, which taxes wage income, plus a local wage tax of 1.00%.

Did people actually move from Montgomery to Tuscaloosa?

Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.