Cost of Living in Alabama

Avg Index: 74

70 cities · Updated March 2026

$1,067
Avg Rent / Month
$70,244
Avg Income
$229,895
Avg Home Value
74
Avg Cost Index
5.0%
Income Tax
4.0%
Sales Tax
Cheapest in Alabama
Selma
Index: 43 · Rent: $723/mo
Most Expensive in Alabama
Mountain Brook
Index: 182 · Rent: $1,444/mo

Alabama Cost of Living Overview

Alabama is significantly more affordable than the national average, with a state-wide cost index of 74. The average monthly rent across Alabama cities is $1,067, with median household incomes averaging $70,244 per year. The cheapest city is Selma (index 43) and the most expensive is Mountain Brook (index 182).

Alabama has a moderate tax environment with a 5.0% top income tax rate, 4.0% sales tax, and 0.41% effective property tax rate.

All 70 Cities in Alabama — Ranked by Cost

Sorted from cheapest to most expensive (US average = 100)

#CityCost Index RentIncomeHome ValuePopulation
1 Selma 43 $723/mo $32,184 $102,500 17,442
2 Russellville 44 $716/mo $52,529 $117,300 10,783
3 Eufaula 46 $660/mo $45,550 $137,400 12,664
4 Gadsden 46 $787/mo $38,699 $101,900 33,617
5 Prichard 46 $876/mo $35,331 $79,900 19,121
6 Alexander 47 $690/mo $42,367 $135,900 14,686
7 Talladega 47 $765/mo $46,820 $116,600 15,041
8 Fort Payne 48 $670/mo $48,623 $158,100 14,886
9 Boaz 49 $645/mo $49,962 $158,200 10,847
10 Ozark 49 $773/mo $46,951 $138,600 14,348
11 Anniston 50 $777/mo $44,806 $141,600 21,377
12 Sylacauga 51 $717/mo $46,384 $156,800 12,388
13 Saks 53 $898/mo $50,529 $113,400 10,727
14 Albertville 55 $815/mo $57,103 $158,900 22,584
15 Florence 55 $784/mo $50,396 $174,100 41,231
16 Scottsboro 56 $792/mo $52,949 $175,700 15,641
17 Tillmans Corner 56 $856/mo $52,249 $155,000 17,678
18 Bessemer 57 $922/mo $37,844 $129,800 25,655
19 Jacksonville 57 $794/mo $47,146 $179,600 14,345
20 Hartselle 58 $751/mo $67,863 $192,200 15,586
21 Jasper 59 $722/mo $66,250 $208,000 14,480
22 Oxford 59 $882/mo $70,065 $164,700 22,063
23 Phenix 60 $926/mo $49,715 $160,000 38,477
24 Valley 60 $1,024/mo $55,422 $130,500 10,406
25 Decatur 61 $861/mo $59,831 $190,500 57,760
26 Birmingham 62 $1,047/mo $44,376 $138,600 199,322
27 Dothan 63 $912/mo $55,052 $186,600 71,118
28 Montgomery 64 $1,059/mo $55,687 $148,500 198,440
29 Center Point 66 $1,161/mo $52,401 $130,200 16,125
30 Mobile 66 $1,029/mo $51,090 $170,300 185,097
31 Athens 67 $834/mo $65,000 $253,700 27,474
32 Cullman 67 $921/mo $63,704 $215,200 18,894
33 Muscle Shoals 67 $939/mo $70,927 $198,300 16,670
34 Opelika 67 $947/mo $58,763 $213,700 31,944
35 Troy 67 $943/mo $47,595 $214,100 17,733
36 Leeds 68 $945/mo $71,672 $220,400 12,221
37 Rainbow 68 $998/mo $59,659 $203,600 10,213
38 Millbrook 69 $1,035/mo $64,522 $193,600 16,923
39 Hueytown 70 $1,276/mo $62,362 $142,900 16,541
40 Enterprise 71 $1,058/mo $68,306 $198,500 28,990
41 Saraland 72 $1,071/mo $60,577 $210,500 16,304
42 Tuscaloosa 73 $1,005/mo $48,536 $236,600 107,699
43 Northport 75 $954/mo $77,781 $258,800 30,991
44 Pell 77 $1,103/mo $73,043 $238,100 13,353
45 Huntsville 78 $1,078/mo $70,778 $263,100 218,814
46 Meridianville 78 $983/mo $93,030 $271,800 10,268
47 Prattville 79 $1,250/mo $79,396 $208,500 38,850
48 Foley 81 $1,169/mo $67,346 $260,100 22,330
49 Gardendale 81 $1,151/mo $81,215 $234,900 16,110
50 Clay 82 $1,373/mo $86,163 $198,400 10,288
51 Irondale 82 $1,177/mo $71,240 $250,000 13,462
52 Auburn 87 $1,034/mo $56,123 $342,400 78,738
53 Moody 87 $1,463/mo $86,389 $222,500 13,378
54 Alabaster 88 $1,375/mo $90,163 $242,600 33,633
55 Calera 89 $1,505/mo $82,441 $214,200 17,188
56 Spanish Fort 93 $1,246/mo $101,574 $314,000 10,377
57 Daphne 96 $1,337/mo $86,479 $309,700 28,673
58 Pelham 98 $1,573/mo $91,904 $278,900 24,510
59 Helena 99 $1,420/mo $109,590 $292,700 21,452
60 Gulf Shores 102 $1,363/mo $73,873 $367,000 15,785
61 McCalla 104 $1,838/mo $83,782 $252,800 13,939
62 Chelsea 106 $1,456/mo $110,056 $339,400 15,731
63 Madison 106 $1,375/mo $131,436 $367,900 58,335
64 Trussville 108 $1,450/mo $120,794 $351,500 26,182
65 Hoover 111 $1,404/mo $107,822 $391,300 92,401
66 Fairhope 115 $1,637/mo $86,509 $406,500 23,360
67 Pike Road 117 $1,615/mo $121,687 $375,000 10,103
68 Homewood 126 $1,457/mo $108,386 $502,300 27,697
69 Vestavia Hills 127 $1,455/mo $129,171 $494,500 38,704
70 Mountain Brook 182 $1,444/mo $191,128 $891,300 22,160

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about cost of living in Alabama

What is the cost of living in Alabama?
The average cost of living index across 70 cities in Alabama is 74 (US average = 100). Average rent is $1,067/month and median household income averages $70,244/year.
What is the cheapest city in Alabama?
The cheapest city in Alabama is Selma with a cost index of 43, median rent of $723/month, and median income of $32,184/year.
What is the most expensive city in Alabama?
The most expensive city in Alabama is Mountain Brook with a cost index of 182, median rent of $1,444/month, and median income of $191,128/year.
What are taxes like in Alabama?
Alabama has a top income tax rate of 5.0%, a sales tax of 4.0%, and an effective property tax rate of 0.41%.
How many cities does CostToLive cover in Alabama?
We track cost of living data for 70 cities in Alabama with populations of 10,000 or more, using US Census Bureau ACS 2023 data.