What is the cost of living in Huntsville, AL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Huntsville has an overall cost of living index of 96, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Alabama, Huntsville has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Alabama's index of 91.
The standard of living in Huntsville ranks as #82 most affordable out of the 116 places we measured in Alabama. By definition, that implies Huntsville ranks as the #34 most expensive place in the Heart of Dixie.
For more reading on life in Huntsville, check out:
Huntsville Cost Of Living Vs. Alabama
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Huntsville. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Huntsville is 94.
The Groceries index in Huntsville is 97.
The Health index in Huntsville is 98.
The Housing index in Huntsville is 98.
The Transportation index in Huntsville is 101.
The Utilities index in Huntsville is 89.
| Living Expense | Huntsville | Alabama | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 96 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 94 | 95 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 98 | 74 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 96 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 95 | 100 |
| Utilities | 89 | 95 | 100 |
Huntsville 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 Huntsville Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Huntsville, 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 Huntsville is $287,569.
The Median Rent in Huntsville is $1,171.
The Median Income in Huntsville is $74,714.
The Home Value To Income in Huntsville is 3.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Huntsville is 0.19x.
| Statistic | Huntsville | Alabama | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $287,569 | $236,452 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,171 | $1,007 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $74,714 | $63,999 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.8x | 3.7x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.19x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Huntsville, AL Costs By Category
Detailed Huntsville Services costs vs. Alabama
| Item | Huntsville | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.24 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.52 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $22.78 | $18 |
| Haircut | $24.45 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $52.5 | $45.56 |
Detailed Huntsville Groceries costs vs. Alabama
| Item | Huntsville | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.04 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.42 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.55 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.33 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.16 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.23 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.85 | $3.7 |
Detailed Huntsville Health costs vs. Alabama
| Item | Huntsville | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $104.06 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $130.44 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $113.33 | $113.29 |
Detailed Huntsville Transportation costs vs. Alabama
| Item | Huntsville | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.16 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.19 | $59.92 |
Detailed Huntsville Utilities costs vs. Alabama
| Item | Huntsville | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $191.34 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $188.01 | $192.25 |
Huntsville SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Huntsville
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Huntsville. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Madison, AL has a cost of living index of 105, 1.1x Huntsville.
Decatur, AL has a cost of living index of 87, 0.9x Huntsville.
Athens, AL has a cost of living index of 95, 1.0x Huntsville.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Huntsville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, AL | 60,106 | 105 | 1.1x |
| Decatur, AL | 57,361 | 87 | 0.9x |
| Athens, AL | 29,002 | 95 | 1.0x |
| Albertville, AL | 22,813 | 88 | 0.9x |
| Cullman, AL | 19,319 | 90 | 0.9x |
| Hartselle, AL | 15,847 | 91 | 0.9x |
| Scottsboro, AL | 15,712 | 87 | 0.9x |
| Meridianville, AL | 11,150 | 95 | 1.0x |
| Winchester, TN | 9,799 | 92 | 1.0x |
| Pulaski, TN | 8,285 | 88 | 0.9x |
