| Index | Chelsea | Alabama | National |
| Cost of living | 106 | 89 | 100 |
| Groceries | 95 | 96 | 100 |
| Health care | 97 | 95 | 100 |
| Housing | 133 | 74 | 100 |
| Transportation | 95 | 95 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 97 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 97 | 94 | 100 |
| Household Items | 95 | 96 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 86 | 93 | 100 |
Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Chelsea? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Chelsea stands at 106, making it 6% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.
The cost of living in Chelsea aligns closely with the national average when compared to other cities across the nation. Everyday essentials such as groceries, household expenses, health care and utility bills are priced at a level consistent with the average in similar urban areas. Chelsea residents can anticipate that their daily expenses won't be significantly higher than those in an average city, ensuring that the cost of living remains manageable.
Housing costs significantly influence the Chelsea cost of living index, typically accounting for a substantial portion of one's post-tax income. Regrettably, within this particular region, expenses related to both residential ownership and renting exceeded those observed in an average city by 32.8%. This entails elements such as housing and rental prices, mortgage interest rates and insurance costs.
Is Chelsea an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Chelsea is 34.9% higher than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 28% higher than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Chelsea has a median household income of $140,274, which is 72.5% higher than the national average.
Urbanization: Larger, urban centers, known for their wealth of amenities and strong employment prospects, often exhibit an elevated cost of living, primarily attributable to the heightened demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this scenario leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural areas or regions characterized by diminished demand typically provide a more limited array of amenities and experience slower job market growth, resulting in a more affordable cost of living.
Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can undergo substantial fluctuations based on the city or state of residence. Elements such as the availability of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket costs for medical consultations, dental expenses, prescription medication charges and specialized medical care fees all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Chelsea, healthcare costs are 3.5% lower than the national average.
Transportation: In areas where public transportation is scarce or unavailable, residents often find themselves compelled to own and upkeep vehicles, thereby increasing the overall cost of living. Monthly expenses encompass fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potentially lease or financing payments. In Chelsea, the transportation index is 5.5% lower than the national average.
The Chelsea cost of living estimates above use a normalized U.S. average of 100 as the baseline for comparison. Housing values incorporate local home price and rental information from the U.S. Census, while all other estimates are AI-assisted and modeled using expected everyday expenses, local market trends, climate, and transportation-related cost pressures. The results are intended for practical city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $145,401 | $12,117 | $3,392 | $4,362 |
| Renters | $109,618 | $9,135 | $2,558 | $3,289 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Alabama | 4% | 13.5% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Alabama | 2% | 5% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Brantleyville, AL | 837 | 76 | 24.1% |
| Talladega Springs, AL | 146 | 85 | 15.1% |
| Fayetteville, AL | 1,132 | 86 | 14.2% |
| Vincent, AL | 2,022 | 86 | 13.7% |
| Birmingham, AL | 216,515 | 88 | 12.4% |
| Chelsea, AL | 14,088 | 106 | 5.8% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Waimalu, HI | 14,084 | 155 | 55.3% |
| Forest City, FL | 14,081 | 117 | 16.7% |
| Andrews, TX | 14,081 | 98 | 1.8% |
| Royse City, TX | 14,081 | 108 | 8.3% |
| Havre de Grace, MD | 14,096 | 119 | 18.5% |
| Chelsea, AL | 14,088 | 106 | 5.8% |
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