What is the cost of living in Gardendale, AL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Gardendale has an overall cost of living index of 100, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Alabama, Gardendale has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Alabama's index of 91.
The standard of living in Gardendale ranks as #95 most affordable out of the 116 places we measured in Alabama. By definition, that implies Gardendale ranks as the #21 most expensive place in the Heart of Dixie.
For more reading on life in Gardendale, check out:
Gardendale Cost Of Living Vs. Alabama
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Gardendale. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Gardendale is 99.
The Groceries index in Gardendale is 100.
The Health index in Gardendale is 100.
The Housing index in Gardendale is 100.
The Transportation index in Gardendale is 96.
The Utilities index in Gardendale is 96.
| Living Expense | Gardendale | Alabama | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 100 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 95 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 100 | 74 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 96 | 100 |
| Transportation | 96 | 95 | 100 |
| Utilities | 96 | 95 | 100 |
Gardendale 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 Gardendale Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Gardendale, 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 Gardendale is $266,522.
The Median Rent in Gardendale is $1,299.
The Median Income in Gardendale is $82,192.
The Home Value To Income in Gardendale is 3.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Gardendale is 0.19x.
| Statistic | Gardendale | Alabama | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $266,522 | $236,452 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,299 | $1,007 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $82,192 | $63,999 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.2x | 3.7x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Gardendale, AL Costs By Category
Detailed Gardendale Services costs vs. Alabama
| Item | Gardendale | 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 Gardendale Groceries costs vs. Alabama
| Item | Gardendale | 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 Gardendale Health costs vs. Alabama
| Item | Gardendale | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $92.33 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $101.83 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $125.78 | $113.29 |
Detailed Gardendale Transportation costs vs. Alabama
| Item | Gardendale | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.13 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $54.52 | $59.92 |
Detailed Gardendale Utilities costs vs. Alabama
| Item | Gardendale | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $219.4 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $188.55 | $192.25 |
Gardendale SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Gardendale
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Gardendale. 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 Gardendale.
Homewood, AL has a cost of living index of 124, 1.2x Gardendale.
Trussville, AL has a cost of living index of 112, 1.1x Gardendale.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Gardendale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 198,173 | 90 | 0.9x |
| Homewood, AL | 27,829 | 124 | 1.2x |
| Trussville, AL | 26,673 | 112 | 1.1x |
| Center Point, AL | 15,914 | 88 | 0.9x |
| Moody, AL | 13,488 | 94 | 0.9x |
| Irondale, AL | 13,464 | 96 | 1.0x |
| Leeds, AL | 12,028 | 95 | 0.9x |
| Forestdale, AL | 9,742 | 88 | 0.9x |
| Fairfield, AL | 9,728 | 85 | 0.8x |
| Pleasant Grove, AL | 9,442 | 96 | 1.0x |
