South ranking
7 Alabama cities ranked by cost of living, cheapest first.
Index 77
Index 107
Sorted by cost-of-living index — lowest (most affordable) first.
| # | City | Cost index | Median rent | Median income | Population | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tuscaloosa | 77 | $980/mo | $47,257 | 106K | Compare → |
| 2 | Mobile | 78 | $985/mo | $48,524 | 186K | Compare → |
| 3 | Birmingham | 78 | $995/mo | $42,464 | 200K | Compare → |
| 4 | Auburn | 78 | $995/mo | $55,509 | 77K | Compare → |
| 5 | Huntsville | 80 | $1,020/mo | $67,874 | 215K | Compare → |
| 6 | Montgomery | 81 | $1,026/mo | $54,166 | 200K | Compare → |
| 7 | Hoover | 107 | $1,352/mo | $101,765 | 92K | Compare → |
Across Alabama, Tuscaloosa is the most affordable city we track (cost index 77, with median rent around $980/mo), while Hoover sits at the top of the range with an index of 107—roughly 38% pricier than Tuscaloosa. Use the table above to compare any Alabama city directly against Tuscaloosa.
The other end of the ranking — priciest first.