2025 affordability guide — compare housing costs, rental prices, and living expenses across 593 cities in Alabama.
Average median home value across Alabama cities.
Rental data covers median monthly rent for tracked cities in Alabama.
COL index 92.0 vs. national average of 100. Your dollar goes further here.
Quick look at the cost extremes across Alabama.
Sorted from most expensive to most affordable. Click any city for a detailed breakdown with housing, rental, and income data.
| # | City | COL Index | Affordability | Median Home | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mountain Brook | 147.0 | Very Expensive | $891,300 | N/A |
| 2 | Point Clear CDP | 146.8 | Very Expensive | $888,700 | N/A |
| 3 | Shoal Creek CDP | 139.2 | Very Expensive | $787,500 | N/A |
| 4 | Highland Lakes CDP | 122.3 | Very Expensive | $562,600 | N/A |
| 5 | Indian Springs Village | 121.0 | Very Expensive | $546,000 | N/A |
| 6 | Homewood | 117.8 | Expensive | $502,300 | N/A |
| 7 | Vestavia Hills | 117.2 | Expensive | $494,500 | N/A |
| 8 | Orange Beach | 115.8 | Expensive | $476,000 | N/A |
| 9 | Eagle Point CDP | 114.8 | Expensive | $463,300 | N/A |
| 10 | Woodland | 111.6 | Expensive | $420,000 | N/A |
| 11 | Mooresville | 111.3 | Expensive | $416,700 | N/A |
| 12 | Fairhope | 110.6 | Expensive | $406,500 | N/A |
| 13 | Brook Highland CDP | 110.2 | Expensive | $401,100 | N/A |
| 14 | Magnolia Springs | 110.0 | Expensive | $399,100 | N/A |
| 15 | Hoover | 109.4 | Moderate | $391,300 | N/A |
| 16 | Meadowbrook CDP | 109.3 | Moderate | $390,100 | N/A |
| 17 | Dauphin Island | 109.1 | Moderate | $387,400 | N/A |
| 18 | Pike Road | 108.2 | Moderate | $375,000 | N/A |
| 19 | Madison | 107.7 | Moderate | $367,900 | N/A |
| 20 | Gulf Shores | 107.6 | Moderate | $367,000 | N/A |
Complete directory of every tracked city and town. Filter or scroll to find yours.
States like Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Kansas typically have lower costs of living compared to coastal states.
RPP (Regional Price Parity) measures the price level for all items. COL Index combines RPP, housing, and rental data for a comprehensive comparison.
Data: BEA Regional Price Parities, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, HUD Fair Market Rents. Our Methodology · Data Sources