A+
18%
Overall NAT. AVG.
9%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
49%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Talladega Alabama National
Cost of living8288100
Goods & Services9196100
Groceries9496100
Health care8087100
Housing5172100
Transportation9291100
Utilities124102100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Talladega, AL

The cost of living in Talladega affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Talladega is 82, which is 18% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

It's not uncommon for housing expenses to eat up a substantial portion of your income, oten exceeding 30%. The good news is that Talladega stands out by reporting housing costs that are 48.9% lower than the national average. This signifies that both homeownership and rental expenses in this region are considerably more affordable compared to the rest of the country. This favorable housing situation allows residents to allocate a more manageable portion of their income to housing, resulting in greater financial flexibility.

Is Talladega Affordable?

Is Talladega an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Talladega, the median home price is 52.6% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 40.5% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Talladega come in at $30,088, which is 45.6% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Talladega?

Taxes: Cities that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an escalated cost of living. The added expense of taxes on everyday goods like clothing and food naturally results in higher overall costs. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can further elevate the cost of living. In Talladega, the general sales tax rate starts at 4%, and income tax rates begin at 2%.

Subsidies: Some areas might offer government subsidies or assistance programs that help lower cost of living for residents. These programs can include anything from Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and crop subsidies. Areas that offer less subsidies, could see an increase in their cost of living.

Transportation: In cities with limited or no public transportation, residents may find it necessary to own and maintain vehicles, thereby elevating the cost of living. Monthly expenditures include fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potential lease or financing commitments. In Talladega, the transportation index stands at 8.2% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Talladega cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Talladega is 7% lower than the Alabama average
  • The cost of living in Talladega is 18% lower than the national average
  • Talladega housing is 49% lower than the national average
  • Alabama general sales tax is 22% lower than the national average
  • Alabama state income tax is 11% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Talladega

See all the best places to live around Talladega

Compare Talladega, AL Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$44,188$3,682$1,031$1,326
      Renters$19,866$1,656$464$596
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Talladega is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Talladega has a median income of about $44,188 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $1,031 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $19,866. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $464 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      Alabama Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Alabama 4% 13.5%

      Alabama Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Alabama 2% 5%

      Goods & Services

      Item Talladega National avg. Difference
      Haircut $16.56$24.2631.8%
      Beauty Salon $35.56$45.5622.0%
      Toothpaste $3.67$3.700.9%
      Shampoo $1.28$1.280.0%
      Movie $11.49$12.135.3%
      Bowling $16.50$18.008.3%

      Groceries

      Item Talladega National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.17$5.8411.5%
      Fried Chicken $1.67$1.576.2%
      Milk $4.56$4.672.3%
      Potatoes $5.40$4.939.4%
      Pizza $10.59$12.0912.4%
      Beer $10.17$10.412.3%

      Health Care

      Item Talladega National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $83.34$125.6833.7%
      Doctor $98.98$135.7827.1%
      Dentist $81.53$113.2928.0%
      Ibuprofen $10.24$10.653.8%
      Lipitor $483.70$468.603.2%

      Housing

      Item Talladega National avg. Difference
      Home Price $87,600.00$184,700.0052.6%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,405.24$2,346.6940.1%
      Apartment Rent $565.00$949.0040.5%

      Transportation

      Item Talladega National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.07$3.4611.3%
      Tire Balancing $59.63$59.920.5%

      Utilities

      Item Talladega National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $270.14$193.9939.3%
      Phone $188.01$192.252.2%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Hobson City, AL7778019.7%
      Bon Air, AL778217.9%
      Munford, AL1,4658119.1%
      Childersburg, AL4,8728614.4%
      Waldo, AL3068415.7%
      Talladega, AL15,4058217.7%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Grosse Pointe Woods, MI15,40911414.0%
      Glasgow, DE15,39911717.4%
      Fullerton, PA15,4151054.7%
      Powder Springs, GA15,3901000.3%
      Pincourt, QC15,382n/a 
      Talladega, AL15,4058217.7%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.