Gulf Shores, AL Cost Of Living
Cost Of Living In Gulf Shores, AL Summary
Cost of living in Gulf Shores 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 Gulf Shores 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:
The cost of living index in Gulf Shores is 104, with 100 being the average.
The cost of living index in Gulf Shores is 1.0x higher than the national average.
Gulf Shores ranks as the #101 cheapest in Alabama out of 119.
Gulf Shores ranks as the #3,063 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.
The median home value in Gulf Shores is $458,002.
The median income in Gulf Shores is $73,873.
Table Of Contents
Gulf Shores's Overall Cost Of Living
Higher Than The National Average
What is the cost of living in Gulf Shores, AL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Gulf Shores has an overall cost of living index of 104, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Alabama, Gulf Shores has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Alabama's index of 90.
The standard of living in Gulf Shores ranks as #101 most affordable out of the 119 places we measured in Alabama. By definition, that implies Gulf Shores ranks as the #18 most expensive place in the Heart of Dixie.
For more reading on life in Gulf Shores, check out:
In Alabama
In America
Gulf Shores Cost Of Living Vs. Alabama
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Gulf Shores. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Gulf Shores is 98.
The Groceries index in Gulf Shores is 99.
The Health index in Gulf Shores is 108.
The Housing index in Gulf Shores is 132.
The Transportation index in Gulf Shores is 91.
The Utilities index in Gulf Shores is 89.
| Living Expense | Gulf Shores | Alabama | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 104 | 90 | 100 | |
| Services | 98 | 97 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 99 | 98 | 100 | |
| Health | 108 | 86 | 100 | |
| Housing | 132 | 74 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 91 | 93 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 89 | 102 | 100 | |
Gulf Shores, 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 2019-2023. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Gulf Shores is $458,002.
The Median Rent in Gulf Shores is $1,363.
The Median Income in Gulf Shores is $73,873.
The Home Value To Income in Gulf Shores is 6.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Gulf Shores is 0.22x.
| Statistic | Gulf Shores | Alabama | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $458,002 | $232,780 | $303,400 |
| Median Rent | $1,363 | $963 | $1,348 |
| Median Income | $73,873 | $62,027 | $78,538 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.2x | 3.8x | 3.9x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.22x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Income
Gulf Shores, AL Costs By Category
Detailed Gulf Shores Services Costs Vs. Alabama
| Item | Gulf Shores | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.17 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $10.62 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $17.33 | $18 |
| Haircut | $24.75 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $45.72 | $45.56 |
Detailed Gulf Shores Groceries Costs Vs. Alabama
| Item | Gulf Shores | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.76 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.74 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.55 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.16 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.24 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.16 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.59 | $3.7 |
Detailed Gulf Shores Health Costs Vs. Alabama
| Item | Gulf Shores | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $122.28 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $128.94 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $138.76 | $113.29 |
Detailed Gulf Shores Transportation Costs Vs. Alabama
| Item | Gulf Shores | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.08 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $60.67 | $59.92 |
Detailed Gulf Shores Utilities Costs Vs. Alabama
| Item | Gulf Shores | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $162.85 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.62 | $192.25 |
Gulf Shores SnackAbility
/10
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Gulf Shores
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Gulf Shores. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Pensacola, FL has a cost of living index of 100, 1.0x Gulf Shores.
Navarre, FL has a cost of living index of 112, 1.1x Gulf Shores.
Ferry Pass, FL has a cost of living index of 97, 0.9x Gulf Shores.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Gulf Shores |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pensacola, FL | 54,011 | 100 | 1.0x |
| Navarre, FL | 38,988 | 112 | 1.1x |
| Ferry Pass, FL | 30,467 | 97 | 0.9x |
| Pace, FL | 25,630 | 98 | 0.9x |
| Bellview, FL | 25,051 | 92 | 0.9x |
| Brent, FL | 23,441 | 87 | 0.8x |
| Fairhope, AL | 23,360 | 114 | 1.1x |
| Ensley, FL | 23,036 | 90 | 0.9x |
| Foley, AL | 22,330 | 95 | 0.9x |
| Prichard, AL | 19,121 | 82 | 0.8x |
