Fairfield, AL Cost Of Living

The latest cost of living statistics for Fairfield. Includes statistics on rent, mortgages, healthcare, and other costs for Fairfield compared to the state and national averages.

Cost of living in Fairfield, Alabama

Cost of living in Fairfield 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 Fairfield 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:

85 Cost of living index 0.8x lower vs US
#13 Cheapest in Alabama (of 116)
#362 Cheapest in the U.S. (of 6,489)
$93,495 Median home value
$1,008 Median rent
$48,456 Median income
Not sure Fairfield fits your budget? Try our place-match quiz →

What is the cost of living in Fairfield, AL?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Fairfield has an overall cost of living index of 85, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Alabama, Fairfield has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Alabama's index of 91.

The standard of living in Fairfield ranks as #13 most affordable out of the 116 places we measured in Alabama. By definition, that implies Fairfield ranks as the #103 most expensive place in the Heart of Dixie.

For more reading on life in Fairfield, check out:

Fairfield Cost Of Living Vs. Alabama

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

  • The Services index in Fairfield is 94.

  • The Groceries index in Fairfield is 96.

  • The Health index in Fairfield is 63.

  • The Housing index in Fairfield is 94.

  • The Transportation index in Fairfield is 94.

  • The Utilities index in Fairfield is 91.

Living Expense Fairfield Alabama National Average
Overall 85 91 100
Services 94 95 100
Groceries 96 96 100
Health 63 74 100
Housing 94 96 100
Transportation 94 95 100
Utilities 91 95 100

Fairfield Cost Of Living Compared To Alabama Averages

Services
Fairfield 94
Alabama avg 95
Groceries
Fairfield 96
Alabama avg 96
Health
Fairfield 63
Alabama avg 74
Housing
Fairfield 94
Alabama avg 96
Transportation
Fairfield 94
Alabama avg 95
Utilities
Fairfield 91
Alabama avg 95

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 Fairfield Get matched →

Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100

Fairfield, AL Housing Cost Breakdown

$93,495Median Home Value
$1,008Median Rent
$48,456Median Income

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 Fairfield is $93,495.

  • The Median Rent in Fairfield is $1,008.

  • The Median Income in Fairfield is $48,456.

  • The Home Value To Income in Fairfield is 1.9x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Fairfield is 0.25x.

Statistic Fairfield Alabama United States
Median Home Value $93,495 $236,452 $332,700
Median Rent $1,008 $1,007 $1,413
Median Income $48,456 $63,999 $80,734
Home Value To Income 1.9x 3.7x 4.1x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.25x 0.19x 0.21x

Fairfield, AL Costs By Category

Detailed Fairfield Services costs vs. Alabama
Item Fairfield Alabama
Shampoo $1.33 $1.28
Movie $12.54 $12.13
Bowling $16.37 $18
Haircut $20.07 $24.26
Beauty Salon $45.74 $45.56
Detailed Fairfield Groceries costs vs. Alabama
Item Fairfield 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 Fairfield Health costs vs. Alabama
Item Fairfield Alabama
Optometrist $92.33 $125.68
Doctor $101.83 $135.78
Dentist $125.78 $113.29
Detailed Fairfield Transportation costs vs. Alabama
Item Fairfield Alabama
Gasoline $3.13 $3.46
Tire Balancing $54.52 $59.92
Detailed Fairfield Utilities costs vs. Alabama
Item Fairfield Alabama
All Electricity $219.4 $193.99
Phone $188.55 $192.25

Fairfield SnackAbility

5Overall SnackAbility
Jobs 4/10
Housing 5/10
Affordability 7/10
Diversity 5/10
SafetyN/A
Amenities 8.5/10
Education 8/10
Commute 8/10

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Fairfield

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Fairfield. 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, 1.1x Fairfield.

  • Homewood, AL has a cost of living index of 124, 1.5x Fairfield.

  • Bessemer, AL has a cost of living index of 86, 1.0x Fairfield.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Fairfield
Birmingham, AL 198,173 90 1.1x
Homewood, AL 27,829 124 1.5x
Bessemer, AL 25,400 86 1.0x
Pelham, AL 24,827 100 1.2x
Helena, AL 21,769 102 1.2x
Gardendale, AL 16,534 100 1.2x
Hueytown, AL 16,414 87 1.0x
Chelsea, AL 16,260 107 1.3x
Center Point, AL 15,914 88 1.0x
Irondale, AL 13,464 96 1.1x