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 89, 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 lower than Alabama's index of 91.
The standard of living in Arab ranks as #41 most affordable out of the 116 places we measured in Alabama. By definition, that implies Arab ranks as the #75 most expensive place in the Heart of Dixie.
For more reading on life in Arab, check out:
Arab Cost Of Living Vs. Alabama
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Arab. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Arab is 97.
The Groceries index in Arab is 93.
The Health index in Arab is 77.
The Housing index in Arab is 96.
The Transportation index in Arab is 102.
The Utilities index in Arab is 92.
| Living Expense | Arab | Alabama | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 89 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 95 | 100 |
| Groceries | 93 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 77 | 74 | 100 |
| Housing | 96 | 96 | 100 |
| Transportation | 102 | 95 | 100 |
| Utilities | 92 | 95 | 100 |
Arab Cost Of Living Compared To Alabama Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Alabama, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Arab Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Arab is $241,411.
The Median Rent in Arab is $718.
The Median Income in Arab is $64,333.
The Home Value To Income in Arab is 3.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Arab is 0.13x.
Arab, AL Costs By Category
Detailed Arab Services costs vs. Alabama
Detailed Arab Groceries costs vs. Alabama
Detailed Arab Health costs vs. Alabama
Detailed Arab Transportation costs vs. Alabama
Arab SnackAbility
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 96, 1.1x Arab.
Decatur, AL has a cost of living index of 87, 1.0x Arab.
Gadsden, AL has a cost of living index of 83, 0.9x Arab.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Arab |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville, AL | 222,791 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Decatur, AL | 57,361 | 87 | 1.0x |
| Gadsden, AL | 33,374 | 83 | 0.9x |
| Athens, AL | 29,002 | 95 | 1.1x |
| Albertville, AL | 22,813 | 88 | 1.0x |
| Cullman, AL | 19,319 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Center Point, AL | 15,914 | 88 | 1.0x |
| Hartselle, AL | 15,847 | 91 | 1.0x |
| Scottsboro, AL | 15,712 | 87 | 1.0x |
| Fort Payne, AL | 14,927 | 90 | 1.0x |
