What is the cost of living in Auburn, AL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Auburn has an overall cost of living index of 104, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Alabama, Auburn has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Alabama's index of 91.
The standard of living in Auburn ranks as #100 most affordable out of the 116 places we measured in Alabama. By definition, that implies Auburn ranks as the #16 most expensive place in the Heart of Dixie.
For more reading on life in Auburn, check out:
Auburn Cost Of Living Vs. Alabama
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Auburn. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Auburn is 96.
The Groceries index in Auburn is 94.
The Health index in Auburn is 130.
The Housing index in Auburn is 92.
The Transportation index in Auburn is 98.
The Utilities index in Auburn is 94.
| Living Expense | Auburn | Alabama | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 104 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 96 | 95 | 100 |
| Groceries | 94 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 130 | 74 | 100 |
| Housing | 92 | 96 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 95 | 100 |
| Utilities | 94 | 95 | 100 |
Auburn 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 Auburn Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Auburn, 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 Auburn is $412,907.
The Median Rent in Auburn is $1,098.
The Median Income in Auburn is $63,668.
The Home Value To Income in Auburn is 6.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Auburn is 0.21x.
Auburn, AL Costs By Category
Detailed Auburn Services costs vs. Alabama
Detailed Auburn Groceries costs vs. Alabama
Detailed Auburn Health costs vs. Alabama
Detailed Auburn Transportation costs vs. Alabama
Auburn SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Auburn
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Auburn. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Columbus, GA has a cost of living index of 96, 0.9x Auburn.
Montgomery, AL has a cost of living index of 89, 0.9x Auburn.
Opelika, AL has a cost of living index of 90, 0.9x Auburn.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, GA | 203,711 | 96 | 0.9x |
| Montgomery, AL | 197,494 | 89 | 0.9x |
| Opelika, AL | 32,820 | 90 | 0.9x |
| LaGrange, GA | 32,078 | 93 | 0.9x |
| Tuskegee, AL | 8,938 | 79 | 0.8x |
