A+
13%
Overall NAT. AVG.
11%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
21%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; 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 Hartselle Alabama National
Cost of living8789100
Goods & Services8995100
Groceries9798100
Health care8191100
Housing7974100
Transportation9190100
Utilities8998100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Hartselle, AL

Getting a feel for the cost of living in Hartselle is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Hartselle is 87, which is 13% lower than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.

Everyday items like clothes, personal care products and fun activities all add up to what it costs to live. The thing is, in Hartselle, these goods and services are 11.2% cheaper than what people pay on average across the country. That means you can enjoy what you need and like without going broke. With these savings, you can stash more cash in your savings or use it for other money goals, which can really boost your financial health.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Hartselle?

The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 5 locals to get their views on the cost of living in Hartselle. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 80% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 20% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.

Is Hartselle Affordable?

Wondering if Hartselle is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Hartselle, for example, the median home price is 19.2% lower than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 26.5% lower than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Hartselle boasting a median household income of $85,300, which is 4.9% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Hartselle?

Utilities: Much like any other costs, utility expenses can exhibit considerable variations, influenced by factors such as climate, available energy sources, geographic location and state regulations. The costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can vary significantly depending on the city or state in question. In Hartselle, the utilities index stands at 11% lower than the national average.

Groceries: Grocery costs have continued to increase significantly over the last 2-3 years. In some markets the cost of food has gone up by more than 20% in that period. While other markets have managed to see only a moderate uptick. These food costs can have a major impact on the cost of living in any area. In Hartselle, the groceries index is 2.7% lower than the national average.

Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In Hartselle, the transportation index is 9.5% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Hartselle 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. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Hartselle is 2% lower than the Alabama average
  • The cost of living in Hartselle is 13% lower than the national average
  • Hartselle housing is 21% lower than the national average
  • Alabama general sales tax is 22% lower than the national average
  • Alabama state income tax is 23% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Hartselle

See all the best places to live around Hartselle

Compare Hartselle, 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$115,802$9,650$2,702$3,474
      Renters$46,722$3,894$1,090$1,402
      The affordability of the housing market in Hartselle, AL as well as the overall cost of living can be predicted by what percent of the monthly income is spent on housing related costs. This is konwn as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The overall rule of thumb is that no more than 28% of your gross income should be spent on the overall costs related to housing and no more than 36% of gross income on all expenses and debts. Among Hartselle homeowners, the median income is $115,802. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $2,702 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $46,722. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $1,090 for their rent related monthly costs.

      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 Hartselle National avg. Difference
      Haircut $15.72$27.6243.1%
      Beauty Salon $48.00$51.116.1%
      Toothpaste $4.05$4.091.0%
      Shampoo $1.49$1.543.4%
      Movie $12.07$12.886.3%
      Yoga $12.75$19.6635.2%

      Groceries

      Item Hartselle National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.92$7.702.8%
      Fried Chicken $1.51$1.669.2%
      Milk $4.53$4.734.3%
      Potatoes $5.71$5.268.6%
      Pizza $12.55$12.761.7%
      Beer $10.26$10.552.7%

      Health Care

      Item Hartselle National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $104.17$140.0625.6%
      Doctor $106.78$153.8230.6%
      Dentist $87.22$123.1529.2%
      Ibuprofen $11.19$11.734.6%
      Lipitor $23.80$23.610.8%

      Housing

      Item Hartselle National avg. Difference
      Home Price $263,802.00$326,622.0019.2%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,761.90$2,480.2529.0%
      Apartment Rent $1,062.00$1,444.0026.5%

      Transportation

      Item Hartselle National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $2.76$3.069.8%
      Tire Balancing $59.55$65.218.7%

      Utilities

      Item Hartselle National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $183.13$220.1216.8%
      Phone $193.60$195.711.1%
      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.
      Somerville, AL6677821.6%
      Falkville, AL1,4108118.9%
      West Point, AL4848415.7%
      South Vinemont, AL6218515.1%
      Trinity, AL2,6788613.9%
      Hartselle, AL14,7528713.3%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Scottsboro, AL14,7468812.2%
      Rio Grande City, TX14,7598019.7%
      Lakewood Park, FL14,760981.7%
      Glens Falls, NY14,7401000.2%
      Beeville, TX14,7648118.7%
      Hartselle, AL14,7528713.3%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.