| Index | Mobile | Alabama | National |
| Cost of living | 91 | 89 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 96 | 100 |
| Health care | 93 | 95 | 100 |
| Housing | 79 | 74 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 95 | 100 |
| Utilities | 101 | 97 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 98 | 94 | 100 |
| Household Items | 96 | 96 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 92 | 93 | 100 |
Understanding the cost of living in Mobile can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Mobile cost of living index is 91, which is 9% lower than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.
The cost of living in Mobile 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. Mobile 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.
The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 15 locals to get their views on the cost of living in Mobile. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 40% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 60% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.
Is Mobile 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 Mobile, the median home price is 26.2% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 7.7% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Mobile come in at $64,213, which is 21% lower than the national average.
Urbanization: Larger, urban areas boasting abundant amenities and robust employment prospects often exhibit a heightened cost of living, driven by the increased demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural locales or regions marked by diminished demand typically offer a more limited range of amenities and experience slower job market expansion. This translates into a more affordable cost of living.
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 Mobile, the utilities index stands at 1.1% higher than the national average.
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 Mobile, healthcare costs are 7.2% lower than the national average.
The Mobile cost of living data above is designed around a U.S. average baseline of 100, allowing for easy comparisons of relative living costs. Housing incorporates U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other figures are AI-assisted estimates that account for regional price trends, climate, transportation dynamics, and common everyday expenses. These values are best used as 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 | $95,449 | $7,954 | $2,227 | $2,864 |
| Renters | $40,801 | $3,400 | $952 | $1,224 |
| 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. |
| Prichard, AL | 22,203 | 82 | 17.6% |
| Chickasaw, AL | 5,954 | 84 | 16.2% |
| Belle Fontaine, AL | 514 | 87 | 12.5% |
| Bay Minette, AL | 9,545 | 88 | 12.2% |
| Tillmans Corner, AL | 17,980 | 89 | 11.4% |
| Mobile, AL | 197,324 | 91 | 8.8% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Burlington, ON | 197,435 | n/a | |
| Shreveport, LA | 197,125 | 95 | 5.3% |
| Tempe, AZ | 197,595 | 119 | 18.6% |
| Overland Park, KS | 197,888 | 114 | 14.1% |
| Grand Prairie, TX | 198,327 | 100 | 0.1% |
| Mobile, AL | 197,324 | 91 | 8.8% |
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