What is the cost of living in Chelsea, AL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Chelsea has an overall cost of living index of 107, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Alabama, Chelsea has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Alabama's index of 91.
The standard of living in Chelsea ranks as #105 most affordable out of the 116 places we measured in Alabama. By definition, that implies Chelsea ranks as the #11 most expensive place in the Heart of Dixie.
For more reading on life in Chelsea, check out:
Chelsea Cost Of Living Vs. Alabama
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Chelsea. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Chelsea is 96.
The Groceries index in Chelsea is 97.
The Health index in Chelsea is 135.
The Housing index in Chelsea is 94.
The Transportation index in Chelsea is 94.
The Utilities index in Chelsea is 98.
| Living Expense | Chelsea | Alabama | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 107 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 96 | 95 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 135 | 74 | 100 |
| Housing | 94 | 96 | 100 |
| Transportation | 94 | 95 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 95 | 100 |
Chelsea 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 Chelsea Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Chelsea, 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 Chelsea is $384,777.
The Median Rent in Chelsea is $1,414.
The Median Income in Chelsea is $115,337.
The Home Value To Income in Chelsea is 3.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Chelsea is 0.15x.
Chelsea, AL Costs By Category
Detailed Chelsea Services costs vs. Alabama
Detailed Chelsea Groceries costs vs. Alabama
Detailed Chelsea Health costs vs. Alabama
Detailed Chelsea Transportation costs vs. Alabama
Chelsea SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Chelsea
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Chelsea. 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, 0.8x Chelsea.
Hoover, AL has a cost of living index of 109, 1.0x Chelsea.
Alabaster, AL has a cost of living index of 100, 0.9x Chelsea.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 198,173 | 90 | 0.8x |
| Hoover, AL | 92,642 | 109 | 1.0x |
| Alabaster, AL | 33,917 | 100 | 0.9x |
| Homewood, AL | 27,829 | 124 | 1.2x |
| Bessemer, AL | 25,400 | 86 | 0.8x |
| Pelham, AL | 24,827 | 100 | 0.9x |
| Helena, AL | 21,769 | 102 | 1.0x |
| Calera, AL | 17,714 | 98 | 0.9x |
| Irondale, AL | 13,464 | 96 | 0.9x |
| Leeds, AL | 12,028 | 95 | 0.9x |
