City comparison
Cost indices by category, with the US city average (100) marked.
Index: 100 = US city average. Lower is more affordable.
Side-by-side costs, salaries, and sub-category indices.
| Metric | Madison | Tuscaloosa | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,201/mo | $980/mo | 22.6% higher in A |
| Median home value | $327,100 | $228,300 | 43.3% higher in A |
| Median household income | $118,132 | $47,257 | 150.0% higher in A |
| Groceries index | 97.1 | 97.1 | ≈ equal |
| Utilities index | 87.2 | 87.5 | ≈ equal |
| Transportation index | 97.8 | 97.8 | ≈ equal |
| Healthcare index | 96.1 | 96.1 | ≈ equal |
How much you'd need to earn in the other city to keep the same standard of living.
If you earn $100,000 in Madison, you'd need $91,118 in Tuscaloosa to maintain your standard of living.
Climate, safety, and demographics side by side.
Tuscaloosa, AL is about 8.9% cheaper overall than Madison, AL, based on our cost-of-living index. Housing costs are roughly 23% lower in Tuscaloosa than in Madison. If you earn $80,000 in Madison, you'd need about $72,895 in Tuscaloosa to keep the same standard of living.