What is the cost of living in Clay, AL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Clay has an overall cost of living index of 97, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Alabama, Clay has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Alabama's index of 91.
The standard of living in Clay ranks as #86 most affordable out of the 116 places we measured in Alabama. By definition, that implies Clay ranks as the #30 most expensive place in the Heart of Dixie.
For more reading on life in Clay, check out:
Clay Cost Of Living Vs. Alabama
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Clay. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Clay is 96.
The Groceries index in Clay is 98.
The Health index in Clay is 95.
The Housing index in Clay is 99.
The Transportation index in Clay is 97.
The Utilities index in Clay is 97.
| Living Expense | Clay | Alabama | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 97 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 96 | 95 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 95 | 74 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 96 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 95 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 95 | 100 |
Clay 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 Clay Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Clay, 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 Clay is $250,060.
The Median Rent in Clay is $2,240.
The Median Income in Clay is $81,920.
The Home Value To Income in Clay is 3.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Clay is 0.33x.
Clay, AL Costs By Category
Detailed Clay Services costs vs. Alabama
Detailed Clay Groceries costs vs. Alabama
Detailed Clay Health costs vs. Alabama
Detailed Clay Transportation costs vs. Alabama
Clay SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Clay
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Clay. 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, 0.9x Clay.
Vestavia Hills, AL has a cost of living index of 125, 1.3x Clay.
Trussville, AL has a cost of living index of 112, 1.2x Clay.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Clay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 198,173 | 90 | 0.9x |
| Vestavia Hills, AL | 38,616 | 125 | 1.3x |
| Trussville, AL | 26,673 | 112 | 1.2x |
| Mountain Brook, AL | 22,029 | 162 | 1.7x |
| Gardendale, AL | 16,534 | 100 | 1.0x |
| Center Point, AL | 15,914 | 88 | 0.9x |
| Moody, AL | 13,488 | 94 | 1.0x |
| Irondale, AL | 13,464 | 96 | 1.0x |
| Leeds, AL | 12,028 | 95 | 1.0x |
| Forestdale, AL | 9,742 | 88 | 0.9x |
