What is the cost of living in Forestdale, AL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Forestdale has an overall cost of living index of 88, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Alabama, Forestdale has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Alabama's index of 91.
The standard of living in Forestdale ranks as #32 most affordable out of the 116 places we measured in Alabama. By definition, that implies Forestdale ranks as the #84 most expensive place in the Heart of Dixie.
For more reading on life in Forestdale, check out:
Forestdale Cost Of Living Vs. Alabama
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Forestdale. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Forestdale is 99.
The Groceries index in Forestdale is 101.
The Health index in Forestdale is 70.
The Housing index in Forestdale is 100.
The Transportation index in Forestdale is 96.
The Utilities index in Forestdale is 98.
| Living Expense | Forestdale | Alabama | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 88 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 95 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 70 | 74 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 96 | 100 |
| Transportation | 96 | 95 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 95 | 100 |
Forestdale 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 Forestdale Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Forestdale, 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 Forestdale is $171,988.
The Median Rent in Forestdale is $1,203.
The Median Income in Forestdale is $66,569.
The Home Value To Income in Forestdale is 2.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Forestdale is 0.22x.
| Statistic | Forestdale | Alabama | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $171,988 | $236,452 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,203 | $1,007 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $66,569 | $63,999 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.6x | 3.7x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Forestdale, AL Costs By Category
Detailed Forestdale Services costs vs. Alabama
| Item | Forestdale | 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 Forestdale Groceries costs vs. Alabama
| Item | Forestdale | 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 Forestdale Health costs vs. Alabama
| Item | Forestdale | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $92.33 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $101.83 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $125.78 | $113.29 |
Detailed Forestdale Transportation costs vs. Alabama
| Item | Forestdale | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.13 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $54.52 | $59.92 |
Detailed Forestdale Utilities costs vs. Alabama
| Item | Forestdale | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $219.4 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $188.55 | $192.25 |
Forestdale SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Forestdale
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Forestdale. 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 Forestdale.
Homewood, AL has a cost of living index of 124, 1.4x Forestdale.
Bessemer, AL has a cost of living index of 86, 1.0x Forestdale.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Forestdale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 198,173 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Homewood, AL | 27,829 | 124 | 1.4x |
| Bessemer, AL | 25,400 | 86 | 1.0x |
| Pelham, AL | 24,827 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Gardendale, AL | 16,534 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Hueytown, AL | 16,414 | 87 | 1.0x |
| Center Point, AL | 15,914 | 88 | 1.0x |
| Irondale, AL | 13,464 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Leeds, AL | 12,028 | 95 | 1.1x |
| Fairfield, AL | 9,728 | 85 | 1.0x |
