| Index | Pelham | Alabama | National |
| Cost of living | 101 | 89 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 96 | 100 |
| Health care | 95 | 95 | 100 |
| Housing | 113 | 74 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 95 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 92 | 94 | 100 |
| Household Items | 95 | 96 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 90 | 93 | 100 |
Knowing the cost of living in Pelham 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 Pelham stands at 101, marking it 1% higher than the national average.
Everyday expenditures like food, housing, lifestyle expenses, transportation and health care in Pelham are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of Pelham can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.
Is Pelham 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 Pelham, the median home price is 11.2% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 18.8% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Pelham come in at $117,484, which is 44.4% higher than the national average.
Subsidies: Certain cities or states may implement government subsidies or assistance programs with the goal of alleviating the cost of living pressures on their residents. These programs encompass a broad spectrum of support mechanisms, including 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 farming subsidies. Areas offering fewer subsidies may experience a rise in their cost of living.
Groceries: Over the past 2-3 years, grocery expenses have experienced substantial upward trends. In certain markets, food prices have surged by over 20% during this period, while others have witnessed more modest increases. These fluctuations in food costs can wield significant influence over the overall cost of living in a given region. In Pelham, the groceries index is 4% lower than the national average.
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 Pelham, the transportation index stands at 2.1% lower than the national average.
The Pelham 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 | $123,917 | $10,326 | $2,891 | $3,718 |
| Renters | $91,769 | $7,647 | $2,141 | $2,753 |
| 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% |
| Brighton, AL | 2,939 | 81 | 18.8% |
| Shelby, AL | 1,012 | 82 | 18.0% |
| Lipscomb, AL | 2,120 | 82 | 18.3% |
| Midfield, AL | 5,127 | 85 | 15.5% |
| Pelham, AL | 24,223 | 101 | 0.7% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| South Elgin, IL | 24,226 | 112 | 12.0% |
| Cudahy, CA | 24,233 | 141 | 40.9% |
| Tumwater, WA | 24,235 | 126 | 26.3% |
| Monsey, NY | 24,236 | 169 | 69.1% |
| Bailey's Crossroads, VA | 24,246 | 136 | 35.6% |
| Pelham, AL | 24,223 | 101 | 0.7% |
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