What is the cost of living in Highland Lakes, AL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Highland Lakes has an overall cost of living index of 138, which is 1.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Alabama, Highland Lakes has a cost of living index that's 1.5x higher than Alabama's index of 91.
The standard of living in Highland Lakes ranks as #115 most affordable out of the 116 places we measured in Alabama. By definition, that implies Highland Lakes ranks as the #1 most expensive place in the Heart of Dixie.
For more reading on life in Highland Lakes, check out:
Highland Lakes Cost Of Living Vs. Alabama
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Highland Lakes. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Highland Lakes is 95.
The Groceries index in Highland Lakes is 96.
The Health index in Highland Lakes is 242.
The Housing index in Highland Lakes is 96.
The Transportation index in Highland Lakes is 98.
The Utilities index in Highland Lakes is 93.
| Living Expense | Highland Lakes | Alabama | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 138 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 95 | 95 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 242 | 74 | 100 |
| Housing | 96 | 96 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 95 | 100 |
| Utilities | 93 | 95 | 100 |
Highland Lakes 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 Highland Lakes Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Highland Lakes, 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 Highland Lakes is $675,000.
The Median Rent in Highland Lakes is $1,201.
The Median Income in Highland Lakes is $169,361.
The Home Value To Income in Highland Lakes is 4.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Highland Lakes is 0.09x.
| Statistic | Highland Lakes | Alabama | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $675,000 | $236,452 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,201 | $1,007 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $169,361 | $63,999 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.0x | 3.7x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.09x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Highland Lakes, AL Costs By Category
Detailed Highland Lakes Services costs vs. Alabama
| Item | Highland Lakes | 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 Highland Lakes Groceries costs vs. Alabama
| Item | Highland Lakes | 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 Highland Lakes Health costs vs. Alabama
| Item | Highland Lakes | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $92.33 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $101.83 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $125.78 | $113.29 |
Detailed Highland Lakes Transportation costs vs. Alabama
| Item | Highland Lakes | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.13 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $54.52 | $59.92 |
Detailed Highland Lakes Utilities costs vs. Alabama
| Item | Highland Lakes | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $219.4 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $188.55 | $192.25 |
Highland Lakes SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Highland Lakes
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Highland Lakes. 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, 0.7x Highland Lakes.
Vestavia Hills, AL has a cost of living index of 125, 0.9x Highland Lakes.
Trussville, AL has a cost of living index of 112, 0.8x Highland Lakes.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Highland Lakes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 198,173 | 90 | 0.7x |
| Vestavia Hills, AL | 38,616 | 125 | 0.9x |
| Trussville, AL | 26,673 | 112 | 0.8x |
| Bessemer, AL | 25,400 | 86 | 0.6x |
| Pelham, AL | 24,827 | 100 | 0.7x |
| Mountain Brook, AL | 22,029 | 162 | 1.2x |
| Calera, AL | 17,714 | 98 | 0.7x |
| Chelsea, AL | 16,260 | 107 | 0.8x |
| Center Point, AL | 15,914 | 88 | 0.6x |
| Moody, AL | 13,488 | 94 | 0.7x |
