Coral Gables, FL vs Mountain Brook, AL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Mountain Brook, AL has a modeled overall cost index 29.3% lower than Coral Gables, FL.

Coral Gables, FL · modeled 2BR rent: $2,995 / month
Mountain Brook, AL · modeled 2BR rent: $1,900 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Coral Gables, FL and Mountain Brook, AL using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Coral Gables, FL

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $2,095/month in Mountain Brook, AL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $124,858 in Mountain Brook, AL

Regional cost estimates: Coral Gables, FL uses Miami, FL. Mountain Brook, AL uses Birmingham, AL. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 29.3%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$2,095

Savings

Annual Impact

$25.1K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Coral Gables, FL

Population:48K

Cost Index:

117.1

100 = national average

Typical Home:$1.04M

Mountain Brook, AL

Population:22K

Cost Index:

82.8

100 = national average

Typical Home:$865K

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Coral Gables, FL

The Sunshine State

48K

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in Florida, this city has a population of 48K residents.

💡 Advantage: Florida has no state income tax!

Mountain Brook, AL

The Heart of Dixie

22K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Alabama, this city has a population of 22K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Coral Gables, FL vs Mountain Brook, AL

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Coral Gables, FL	Mountain Brook, AL	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,732/mo	$1,424/mo	↓ $1,309less	47.9%
Other	$1,721/mo	$1,294/mo	↓ $427less	24.8%
Transportation	$1,202/mo	$989/mo	↓ $214less	17.8%
Groceries	$910/mo	$809/mo	↓ $101less	11.1%
Healthcare	$496/mo	$434/mo	↓ $62.74less	12.6%
All Utilities	$438/mo	$456/mo	↑ $18.38more	4.2%

Housing

↓ 47.9%

Coral Gables, FL

$2,732

Mountain Brook, AL

$1,424

Difference

$1,309

less

Other

↓ 24.8%

Coral Gables, FL

$1,721

Mountain Brook, AL

$1,294

Difference

$427

less

Transportation

↓ 17.8%

Coral Gables, FL

$1,202

Mountain Brook, AL

$989

Difference

$214

less

Groceries

↓ 11.1%

Coral Gables, FL

$910

Mountain Brook, AL

$809

Difference

$101

less

Healthcare

↓ 12.6%

Coral Gables, FL

$496

Mountain Brook, AL

$434

Difference

$62.74

less

All Utilities

↑ 4.2%

Coral Gables, FL

$438

Mountain Brook, AL

$456

Difference

$18.38

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$2,245

To$1,540

↓ $705

1 Bed

From$2,455

To$1,730

↓ $725

2 Bed

From$2,995

To$1,900

↓ $1,095

3 Bed

From$3,845

To$2,380

↓ $1,465

Coral Gables, FLZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,370–$2,990/mo

Mountain Brook, ALZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,730–$1,730/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Coral Gables, FL

$5,405

Monthly in Mountain Brook, AL

$2,095

Difference

Home Values

Coral Gables

Mountain Brook

$1.04M

Median Value

$865K

↓ -1.9%

YoY Change

↑ +5.3%

↑ +65.1%

5-Year Change

↑ +39.2%

$701K - $1.79M

Price Range

$865K

Homes in Mountain Brook are 17% less expensive than Coral Gables

Calculate payment - Coral Gables Calculate payment - Mountain Brook

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↓ $7.5K

More taxes

Monthly Difference

$622

Less take-home

Effective Rate Diff

5.0%

Rate difference

Coral Gables, FL

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Florida State Tax

No state income tax

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 24.7%

$37.0K

Take-Home Pay

$9,416/month

$113.0K

Mountain Brook, AL

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Alabama State Tax

Effective: 5.0%

$7.5K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 29.6%

$44.5K

Take-Home Pay

$8,794/month

$105.5K

Additional Tax Information

Coral Gables, FL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.2%

Property Tax:0.8%

Mountain Brook, AL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.1%

Property Tax:0.4%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Coral Gables

Mountain Brook

48 Good

Air Quality

57 Moderate

59.8%

Good Air Days

26%

100 Very High

Climate Risk

98 High

🌊🌅🌀

Top Hazards

🌊🌡🌪

▲+2.3°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.5°F

15 days

Heat Days >95°F

41 days

▲+2.3°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.5°F

15 days

Heat Days >95°F

41 days

Before moving from Coral Gables, FL to Mountain Brook, AL

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Mountain Brook, AL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Coral Gables, FL. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Coral Gables to Mountain Brook moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Mountain Brook, AL by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Coral Gables, FL vs Mountain Brook, AL

How do the cost estimates for Coral Gables, FL and Mountain Brook, AL compare?

Mountain Brook, AL has a modeled overall cost index 29.3% lower than Coral Gables, FL. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Coral Gables, FL, the model estimates $124,858 in Mountain Brook, AL. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Coral Gables, FL and Mountain Brook, AL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,995/month in Coral Gables, FL and $1,900/month in Mountain Brook, AL. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Florida and Alabama on TaxTakeHome.com