Muscle Shoals, AL Cost Of Living
Cost Of Living In Muscle Shoals, AL Summary
Cost of living in Muscle Shoals 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 Muscle Shoals 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 Muscle Shoals is 90, with 100 being the average.
The cost of living index in Muscle Shoals is 0.9x lower than the national average.
Muscle Shoals ranks as the #48 cheapest in Alabama out of 119.
Muscle Shoals ranks as the #1,206 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.
The median home value in Muscle Shoals is $256,984.
The median income in Muscle Shoals is $70,927.
Table Of Contents
Muscle Shoals's Overall Cost Of Living
Lower Than The National Average
What is the cost of living in Muscle Shoals, AL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Muscle Shoals has an overall cost of living index of 90, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Alabama, Muscle Shoals has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Alabama's index of 90.
The standard of living in Muscle Shoals ranks as #48 most affordable out of the 119 places we measured in Alabama. By definition, that implies Muscle Shoals ranks as the #71 most expensive place in the Heart of Dixie.
For more reading on life in Muscle Shoals, check out:
In Alabama
In America
Muscle Shoals Cost Of Living Vs. Alabama
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Muscle Shoals. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Muscle Shoals is 90.
The Groceries index in Muscle Shoals is 96.
The Health index in Muscle Shoals is 81.
The Housing index in Muscle Shoals is 84.
The Transportation index in Muscle Shoals is 89.
The Utilities index in Muscle Shoals is 97.
| Living Expense | Muscle Shoals | Alabama | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 90 | 90 | 100 | |
| Services | 90 | 97 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 96 | 98 | 100 | |
| Health | 81 | 86 | 100 | |
| Housing | 84 | 74 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 89 | 93 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 97 | 102 | 100 | |
Muscle Shoals, 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 Muscle Shoals is $256,984.
The Median Rent in Muscle Shoals is $939.
The Median Income in Muscle Shoals is $70,927.
The Home Value To Income in Muscle Shoals is 3.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Muscle Shoals is 0.16x.
| Statistic | Muscle Shoals | Alabama | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $256,984 | $232,780 | $303,400 |
| Median Rent | $939 | $963 | $1,348 |
| Median Income | $70,927 | $62,027 | $78,538 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.6x | 3.8x | 3.9x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.16x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Income
Muscle Shoals, AL Costs By Category
Detailed Muscle Shoals Services Costs Vs. Alabama
| Item | Muscle Shoals | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.04 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.5 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $17.5 | $18 |
| Haircut | $17.13 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $32.58 | $45.56 |
Detailed Muscle Shoals Groceries Costs Vs. Alabama
| Item | Muscle Shoals | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.67 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.67 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.49 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.06 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $9.73 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.23 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.74 | $3.7 |
Detailed Muscle Shoals Health Costs Vs. Alabama
| Item | Muscle Shoals | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $80.87 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $90.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $94.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed Muscle Shoals Transportation Costs Vs. Alabama
| Item | Muscle Shoals | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.14 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $52.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Muscle Shoals Utilities Costs Vs. Alabama
| Item | Muscle Shoals | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $180.93 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.22 | $192.25 |
Muscle Shoals SnackAbility
/10
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Muscle Shoals
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Muscle Shoals. 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 107, 1.2x Muscle Shoals.
Decatur, AL has a cost of living index of 90, 1.0x Muscle Shoals.
Florence, AL has a cost of living index of 85, 0.9x Muscle Shoals.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Muscle Shoals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, AL | 58,335 | 107 | 1.2x |
| Decatur, AL | 57,760 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Florence, AL | 41,231 | 85 | 0.9x |
| Athens, AL | 27,474 | 91 | 1.0x |
| Hartselle, AL | 15,586 | 88 | 1.0x |
| Lawrenceburg, TN | 11,732 | 86 | 1.0x |
| Russellville, AL | 10,783 | 82 | 0.9x |
| Sheffield, AL | 9,334 | 83 | 0.9x |
| Tuscumbia, AL | 9,084 | 85 | 0.9x |
| Pulaski, TN | 8,305 | 86 | 1.0x |
