Arab, AL Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Arab, AL Summary

Cost of living in Arab research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Arab is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Alabama, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Arab is 93, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Arab is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • Arab ranks as the #66 cheapest in Alabama out of 119.

  • Arab ranks as the #1,658 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Arab is $236,683.

  • The median income in Arab is $60,985.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
93
Arab's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Arab, AL?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Arab has an overall cost of living index of 93, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Alabama, Arab has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Alabama's index of 90.

The standard of living in Arab ranks as #66 most affordable out of the 119 places we measured in Alabama. By definition, that implies Arab ranks as the #53 most expensive place in the Heart of Dixie.

For more reading on life in Arab, check out:

66 out of 119
In Alabama
1,658 out of 6,489
In America

Arab Cost Of Living Vs. Alabama

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Arab. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Arab is 100.

  • The Groceries index in Arab is 99.

  • The Health index in Arab is 95.

  • The Housing index in Arab is 78.

  • The Transportation index in Arab is 95.

  • The Utilities index in Arab is 98.

Living Expense Arab Alabama National Average
Overall 93 90 100
Services 100 97 100
Groceries 99 98 100
Health 95 86 100
Housing 78 74 100
Transportation 95 93 100
Utilities 98 102 100
For more reading on cost of living around Alabama, check out:
Arab Cost of Living Vs. AL

Arab, AL Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in Alabama, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2019-2023. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Arab is $236,683.

  • The Median Rent in Arab is $697.

  • The Median Income in Arab is $60,985.

  • The Home Value To Income in Arab is 3.9x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Arab is 0.14x.

Statistic Arab Alabama United States
Median Home Value $236,683 $232,780 $303,400
Median Rent $697 $963 $1,348
Median Income $60,985 $62,027 $78,538
Home Value To Income 3.9x 3.8x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.14x 0.19x 0.21x
$236,683
Median Home Value
$697
Median Rent
$60,985
Median Income

Arab, AL Costs By Category

Detailed Arab Services Costs Vs. Alabama

Item Arab Alabama
Shampoo $1.24 $1.28
Movie $12.52 $12.13
Bowling $22.78 $18
Haircut $24.45 $24.26
Beauty Salon $52.5 $45.56

Detailed Arab Groceries Costs Vs. Alabama

Item Arab Alabama
Ground Beef $6.04 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.42 $1.57
Milk $4.55 $4.67
Potatoes $5.33 $4.93
Pizza $12.16 $12.09
Beer $10.23 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.85 $3.7

Detailed Arab Health Costs Vs. Alabama

Item Arab Alabama
Optometrist $104.06 $125.68
Doctor $130.44 $135.78
Dentist $113.33 $113.29

Detailed Arab Transportation Costs Vs. Alabama

Item Arab Alabama
Gasoline $3.16 $3.46
Tire Balancing $61.19 $59.92

Detailed Arab Utilities Costs Vs. Alabama

Item Arab Alabama
All Electricity $191.34 $193.99
Phone $188.01 $192.25

Arab SnackAbility

5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
7/10
Housing
5
Affordability
8
Diversity
5
Safety
N/A
Amenities
7
Education
7
Commute
6

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Arab

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Arab. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Huntsville, AL has a cost of living index of 99, 1.1x Arab.

  • Decatur, AL has a cost of living index of 90, 1.0x Arab.

  • Gadsden, AL has a cost of living index of 84, 0.9x Arab.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Arab
Huntsville, AL 218,814 99 1.1x
Decatur, AL 57,760 90 1.0x
Gadsden, AL 33,617 84 0.9x
Athens, AL 27,474 91 1.0x
Albertville, AL 22,584 90 1.0x
Cullman, AL 18,894 89 1.0x
Center Point, AL 16,125 89 1.0x
Scottsboro, AL 15,641 89 1.0x
Hartselle, AL 15,586 88 0.9x
Fort Payne, AL 14,886 86 0.9x

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