What is the cost of living in Fort Payne, AL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Fort Payne has an overall cost of living index of 90, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Alabama, Fort Payne has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Alabama's index of 91.
The standard of living in Fort Payne ranks as #50 most affordable out of the 116 places we measured in Alabama. By definition, that implies Fort Payne ranks as the #66 most expensive place in the Heart of Dixie.
For more reading on life in Fort Payne, check out:
Fort Payne Cost Of Living Vs. Alabama
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Fort Payne. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Fort Payne is 98.
The Groceries index in Fort Payne is 102.
The Health index in Fort Payne is 70.
The Housing index in Fort Payne is 96.
The Transportation index in Fort Payne is 100.
The Utilities index in Fort Payne is 102.
| Living Expense | Fort Payne | Alabama | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 90 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 95 | 100 |
| Groceries | 102 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 70 | 74 | 100 |
| Housing | 96 | 96 | 100 |
| Transportation | 100 | 95 | 100 |
| Utilities | 102 | 95 | 100 |
Fort Payne 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 Fort Payne Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Fort Payne, 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 Fort Payne is $203,034.
The Median Rent in Fort Payne is $679.
The Median Income in Fort Payne is $47,479.
The Home Value To Income in Fort Payne is 4.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Fort Payne is 0.17x.
| Statistic | Fort Payne | Alabama | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $203,034 | $236,452 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $679 | $1,007 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $47,479 | $63,999 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.3x | 3.7x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.17x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Fort Payne, AL Costs By Category
Detailed Fort Payne Services costs vs. Alabama
| Item | Fort Payne | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.27 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.57 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $16.47 | $18 |
| Haircut | $18.8 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $48.4 | $45.56 |
Detailed Fort Payne Groceries costs vs. Alabama
| Item | Fort Payne | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.63 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.43 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.49 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.17 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.66 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.02 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.66 | $3.7 |
Detailed Fort Payne Health costs vs. Alabama
| Item | Fort Payne | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $112.0 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $129.61 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $96.5 | $113.29 |
Detailed Fort Payne Transportation costs vs. Alabama
| Item | Fort Payne | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.09 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $50.87 | $59.92 |
Detailed Fort Payne Utilities costs vs. Alabama
| Item | Fort Payne | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $170.16 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $192.18 | $192.25 |
Fort Payne SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Fort Payne
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Fort Payne. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Chattanooga, TN has a cost of living index of 99, 1.1x Fort Payne.
Rome, GA has a cost of living index of 93, 1.0x Fort Payne.
Dalton, GA has a cost of living index of 93, 1.0x Fort Payne.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Fort Payne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga, TN | 185,783 | 99 | 1.1x |
| Rome, GA | 38,189 | 93 | 1.0x |
| Dalton, GA | 34,538 | 93 | 1.0x |
| Gadsden, AL | 33,374 | 83 | 0.9x |
| East Ridge, TN | 22,070 | 92 | 1.0x |
| Jacksonville, AL | 14,437 | 89 | 1.0x |
| Fort Oglethorpe, GA | 10,416 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Cedartown, GA | 10,227 | 87 | 1.0x |
| Rainsville, AL | 5,702 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Fairview, GA | 5,302 | 89 | 1.0x |
