Bessemer, AL Cost Of Living

Demographics | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-23

Cost Of Living In Bessemer, AL Summary

Cost of living in Bessemer 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 Bessemer 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 Bessemer is 88, with 100 being the average.

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

  • Bessemer ranks as the #33 cheapest in Alabama out of 119.

  • Bessemer ranks as the #912 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Bessemer is $131,192.

  • The median income in Bessemer is $37,844.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
88
Bessemer's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Bessemer, AL?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Bessemer has an overall cost of living index of 88, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Alabama, Bessemer has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Alabama's index of 87.

The standard of living in Bessemer ranks as #33 most affordable out of the 119 places we measured in Alabama. By definition, that implies Bessemer ranks as the #86 most expensive place in the Heart of Dixie.

For more reading on life in Bessemer, check out:

33 out of 119
In Alabama
912 out of 6,489
In America

Bessemer Cost Of Living Vs. Alabama

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

  • The Services index in Bessemer is 99.

  • The Groceries index in Bessemer is 99.

  • The Health index in Bessemer is 94.

  • The Housing index in Bessemer is 63.

  • The Transportation index in Bessemer is 89.

  • The Utilities index in Bessemer is 110.

Living Expense Bessemer Alabama National Average
Overall 88 87 100
Services 99 98 100
Groceries 99 94 100
Health 94 88 100
Housing 63 73 100
Transportation 89 90 100
Utilities 110 104 100
For more reading on cost of living around Alabama, check out:
Bessemer Cost of Living Vs. AL

Bessemer, 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 Bessemer is $131,192.

  • The Median Rent in Bessemer is $922.

  • The Median Income in Bessemer is $37,844.

  • The Home Value To Income in Bessemer is 3.5x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Bessemer is 0.29x.

Statistic Bessemer Alabama United States
Median Home Value $131,192 $232,780 $303,400
Median Rent $922 $963 $1,348
Median Income $37,844 $62,027 $78,538
Home Value To Income 3.5x 3.8x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.29x 0.19x 0.21x
$131,192
Median Home Value
$922
Median Rent
$37,844
Median Income

Bessemer, AL Costs By Category

Detailed Bessemer Services Costs Vs. Alabama

Item Bessemer Alabama
Shampoo $1.33 $1.28
Movie $12.54 $12.13
Bowling $16.37 $18.0
Haircut $20.07 $24.26
Beauty Salon $45.74 $45.56

Detailed Bessemer Groceries Costs Vs. Alabama

Item Bessemer Alabama
Ground Beef $6.01 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.66 $1.57
Milk $4.54 $4.67
Potatoes $5.23 $4.93
Pizza $10.99 $12.09
Beer $10.4 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.76 $3.7

Detailed Bessemer Health Costs Vs. Alabama

Item Bessemer Alabama
Optometrist $92.33 $125.68
Doctor $101.83 $135.78
Dentist $125.78 $113.29

Detailed Bessemer Transportation Costs Vs. Alabama

Item Bessemer Alabama
Gasoline $3.13 $3.46
Tire Balancing $54.52 $59.92

Detailed Bessemer Utilities Costs Vs. Alabama

Item Bessemer Alabama
All Electricity $219.4 $193.99
Phone $188.55 $192.25

Bessemer SnackAbility

5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
3/10
Housing
5
Affordability
5
Diversity
8
Safety
N/A
Amenities
8
Education
5
Commute
8

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Bessemer

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

  • Birmingham, AL has a cost of living index of 90, 1.0x Bessemer.

  • Hoover, AL has a cost of living index of 111, 1.3x Bessemer.

  • Alabaster, AL has a cost of living index of 97, 1.1x Bessemer.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Bessemer
Birmingham, AL 199,322 90 1.0x
Hoover, AL 92,401 111 1.3x
Alabaster, AL 33,633 97 1.1x
Homewood, AL 27,697 123 1.4x
Pelham, AL 24,510 104 1.2x
Helena, AL 21,452 104 1.2x
Hueytown, AL 16,541 91 1.0x
Chelsea, AL 15,731 109 1.2x
Fairfield, AL 9,846 89 1.0x
Pleasant Grove, AL 9,502 98 1.1x

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