Phelps, NY vs Montgomery, PA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Montgomery, PA has a modeled overall cost index 11.0% lower than Phelps, NY.

Phelps, NY · modeled 2BR rent
$1,290 / month
Montgomery, PA · modeled 2BR rent
$1,270 / 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 Phelps, NY and Montgomery, PA 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

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $707/month in Montgomery, PA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $141,514 in Montgomery, PA

Regional cost estimates: Phelps, NY uses Newark, NJ. Montgomery, PA uses Philadelphia, PA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 11.0%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$707
Savings
Annual Impact
$8.5K
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.

Phelps, NY

Population:2K
Cost Index:
82.4
100 = national average
Typical Home:$219K

Montgomery, PA

Population:2K
Cost Index:
73.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$219K

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Phelps, NY

The Empire State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in New York, this city has a population of 2K residents.

Montgomery, PA

The Keystone State

2K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Pennsylvania, this city has a population of 2K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Phelps, NY vs Montgomery, PA

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.

Other
↓ 16.8%
Phelps, NY
$1,811
Montgomery, PA
$1,507
Difference
$305
less
Transportation
↓ 15.6%
Phelps, NY
$1,429
Montgomery, PA
$1,206
Difference
$223
less
Healthcare
↓ 14.0%
Phelps, NY
$704
Montgomery, PA
$606
Difference
$98.40
less
Housing
↓ 2.9%
Phelps, NY
$1,820
Montgomery, PA
$1,767
Difference
$52.31
less
Groceries
↓ 2.1%
Phelps, NY
$1,126
Montgomery, PA
$1,102
Difference
$23.85
less
All Utilities
↓ 0.8%
Phelps, NY
$610
Montgomery, PA
$605
Difference
$4.72
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$920
To$880
↓ $40.00
1 Bed
From$1,040
To$1,060
↑ $20.00
2 Bed
From$1,290
To$1,270
↓ $20.00
3 Bed
From$1,550
To$1,690
↑ $140
Phelps, NYZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,040–$1,040/mo

Montgomery, PAZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,060–$1,060/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 Phelps, NY
$6,793
Monthly in Montgomery, PA
$707
Difference

Home Values

Phelps
Montgomery
$219K
Median Value
$219K
↓ -0.6%
YoY Change
↑ +2%
↑ +37.7%
5-Year Change
↑ +24.1%
Calculate payment - PhelpsCalculate payment - Montgomery

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $4.9K
Per year
Monthly Difference
$412
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
3.3%
Rate difference

Phelps, NY

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
New York State Tax
Effective: 6.4%
$9.5K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 31.0%
$46.6K
Take-Home Pay
$8,620/month
$103.4K

Montgomery, PA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Pennsylvania State Tax
Effective: 3.1%
$4.6K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 27.7%
$41.6K
Take-Home Pay
$9,032/month
$108.4K

Additional Tax Information

Phelps, NY Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.8%
Property Tax:1.2%

Montgomery, PA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.5%
Property Tax:1.4%

💡 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

Phelps
Montgomery
N/A
Air Quality
52 Moderate
-
Good Air Days
47.3%
98 High
Climate Risk
100 Very High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌅🌀
▲+2.9°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.9°F
15 days
Heat Days >95°F
22 days
▲+2.9°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.9°F
15 days
Heat Days >95°F
22 days

Before moving from Phelps, NY to Montgomery, PA

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Montgomery, PA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Phelps, NY. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Phelps to Montgomery moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Montgomery, PA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Phelps, NY vs Montgomery, PA

How do the cost estimates for Phelps, NY and Montgomery, PA compare?

Montgomery, PA has a modeled overall cost index 11.0% lower than Phelps, NY. 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 Phelps, NY, the model estimates $141,514 in Montgomery, PA. 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 Phelps, NY and Montgomery, PA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,290/month in Phelps, NY and $1,270/month in Montgomery, PA. 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 New York and Pennsylvania on TaxTakeHome.com

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