Can I Afford to Live in St. Paul vs Montgomery on $40K?

Here's how a $40K/year salary plays out in both cities after taxes, rent, and core living expenses — based on Q1 2026 data.

St. Paul, MN
$2,398/mo take-home
Rent: $1,500/mo (63% of take-home)
Difficult
Montgomery, AL
$2,562/mo take-home
Rent: $1,050/mo (41% of take-home)
Tight
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Monthly budget breakdown

St. Paul
MN
Montgomery
AL
Monthly take-home (est.)
$2,398
$2,562Best ✓
1BR rent
$1,500
$1,050Best ✓
Groceries (est.)
$384
$353Best ✓
Transport (est.)
$95
$38Best ✓
Utilities
$195
$170Best ✓
Internet
$63
$58Best ✓
Left after essentials
$161/month
$893/month

Frequently asked questions

Is $40K a good salary in St. Paul?

At $40K/year in St. Paul, your estimated monthly take-home is $2,398. With 1BR rent around $1,500/month, rent takes up 63% of your take-home. That's considered difficult.

Is $40K a good salary in Montgomery?

At $40K/year in Montgomery, your estimated monthly take-home is $2,562. With 1BR rent around $1,050/month, rent takes up 41% of your take-home. That's considered tight.

Which city is more affordable on a $40K salary?

Montgomery leaves you with more money after core expenses — $893/month vs $161/month in St. Paul.

Can I afford to live alone in St. Paul on $40K?

It's tight. Rent in St. Paul would take 63% of your $40K take-home pay. You may need to find roommates or look at studios to stay within the 30% rule.

Compare other salary bands — St. Paul vs Montgomery

$50K$60K$75K$80K$100K$120K$150K

See the full cost-of-living comparison

Rent, groceries, taxes, transportation, and more — side by side.

Full comparison

Take-home estimates use simplified federal/state brackets and do not account for pre-tax deductions, 401(k), or local taxes. Data: Zillow, BLS, Numbeo · Q1 2026 · For general guidance only