| Index | Huntsville | Texas | National |
| Cost of living | 97 | 94 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Health care | 96 | 98 | 100 |
| Housing | 94 | 83 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Utilities | 103 | 103 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 94 | 98 | 100 |
| Household Items | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 99 | 98 | 100 |

Knowing the cost of living in Huntsville allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Huntsville stands at 97, marking it 3% lower than the national average.
The cost of living in Huntsville is about average when compared to all other cities across the nation. You can expect that everyday items like food, household expenses and utility bills will be no more expensive than any other average city. Residents can anticipate living expenses that remain in line with the national average, ensuring a manageable financial burden, making it an attractive choice for those seeking affordability without the constraints of higher everyday expenditures.
Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 12 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Huntsville and this is how they responded. 33% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 67% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.
Is Huntsville 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 Huntsville, the median home price is 5.7% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 6% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Huntsville come in at $46,983, which is 42.2% lower than the national average.
Taxes: Areas with higher taxes, including sales taxes and income taxes, can contribute to a higher cost of living. Paying more tax for everyday household expenses like clothing and food will result in higher costs, as will paying a higher rate of income tax. The general sales tax rate in Huntsville starts at 6.25% and the income tax rates start at 0%.
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 Huntsville, the groceries index is 3.5% lower than the national average.
Housing: High demand for housing in desirable locations can drive up property prices and rental rates. This can be a primary contributor to a higher cost of living. While low demand for housing, especially in undesirable locations, can have the reverse effect and drive prices down, resulting in a lower cost of living. The housing index in Huntsville, is 5.8% lower than the national average.
The Huntsville cost of living data displayed above uses a U.S. average baseline of 100 to provide a practical way to compare living expenses across cities. Housing estimates incorporate U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are generated using AI-assisted models based on everyday expense expectations, regional pricing trends, climate, transportation patterns, and local economic conditions. These values are designed for directional 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 | $84,786 | $7,066 | $1,978 | $2,544 |
| Renters | $37,758 | $3,147 | $881 | $1,133 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Texas | 6.25% | 8.25% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Texas | 0% | 0% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Oakhurst, TX | 178 | 98 | 2.3% |
| Riverside, TX | 471 | 89 | 11.0% |
| New Waverly, TX | 940 | 91 | 9.4% |
| Huntsville, TX | 43,308 | 97 | 3.3% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| West Babylon, NY | 43,319 | 137 | 37.1% |
| Oakley, CA | 43,283 | 151 | 50.6% |
| Apache Junction, AZ | 43,334 | 93 | 7.1% |
| Rouyn-Noranda, QC | 43,276 | n/a | |
| Beverly, MA | 43,236 | 146 | 45.6% |
| Huntsville, TX | 43,308 | 97 | 3.3% |