Mobile, AL Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-24

Cost Of Living In Mobile, AL Summary

Cost of living in Mobile 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 Mobile 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 Mobile is 89, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Mobile is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • Mobile ranks as the #41 cheapest in Alabama out of 119.

  • Mobile ranks as the #1,060 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Mobile is $195,238.

  • The median income in Mobile is $51,090.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
89
Mobile's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Mobile, AL?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Mobile has an overall cost of living index of 89, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Alabama, Mobile has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Alabama's index of 90.

The standard of living in Mobile ranks as #41 most affordable out of the 119 places we measured in Alabama. By definition, that implies Mobile ranks as the #78 most expensive place in the Heart of Dixie.

For more reading on life in Mobile, check out:

41 out of 119
In Alabama
1,060 out of 6,489
In America

Mobile Cost Of Living Vs. Alabama

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Mobile. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Mobile is 99.

  • The Groceries index in Mobile is 96.

  • The Health index in Mobile is 107.

  • The Housing index in Mobile is 79.

  • The Transportation index in Mobile is 93.

  • The Utilities index in Mobile is 88.

Living Expense Mobile Alabama National Average
Overall 89 90 100
Services 99 97 100
Groceries 96 98 100
Health 107 86 100
Housing 79 74 100
Transportation 93 93 100
Utilities 88 102 100
For more reading on cost of living around Alabama, check out:
Mobile Cost of Living Vs. AL

Mobile, 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 Mobile is $195,238.

  • The Median Rent in Mobile is $1,029.

  • The Median Income in Mobile is $51,090.

  • The Home Value To Income in Mobile is 3.8x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Mobile is 0.24x.

Statistic Mobile Alabama United States
Median Home Value $195,238 $232,780 $303,400
Median Rent $1,029 $963 $1,348
Median Income $51,090 $62,027 $78,538
Home Value To Income 3.8x 3.8x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.24x 0.19x 0.21x
$195,238
Median Home Value
$1,029
Median Rent
$51,090
Median Income

Mobile, AL Costs By Category

Detailed Mobile Services Costs Vs. Alabama

Item Mobile 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 Mobile Groceries Costs Vs. Alabama

Item Mobile 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 Mobile Health Costs Vs. Alabama

Item Mobile Alabama
Optometrist $122.28 $125.68
Doctor $128.94 $135.78
Dentist $138.76 $113.29

Detailed Mobile Transportation Costs Vs. Alabama

Item Mobile Alabama
Gasoline $3.08 $3.46
Tire Balancing $60.67 $59.92

Detailed Mobile Utilities Costs Vs. Alabama

Item Mobile Alabama
All Electricity $162.85 $193.99
Phone $187.62 $192.25

Mobile SnackAbility

6
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
5/10
Housing
6
Affordability
6
Diversity
9
Safety
N/A
Amenities
8.5
Education
8
Commute
8

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Mobile

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Mobile. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Daphne, AL has a cost of living index of 101, 1.1x Mobile.

  • Fairhope, AL has a cost of living index of 114, 1.3x Mobile.

  • Prichard, AL has a cost of living index of 82, 0.9x Mobile.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Mobile
Daphne, AL 28,673 101 1.1x
Fairhope, AL 23,360 114 1.3x
Prichard, AL 19,121 82 0.9x
Tillmans Corner, AL 17,678 88 1.0x
Saraland, AL 16,304 94 1.1x
Spanish Fort, AL 10,377 105 1.2x
Satsuma, AL 6,784 95 1.1x
Chickasaw, AL 6,367 84 0.9x
Semmes, AL 5,404 89 1.0x

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