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 91.
The standard of living in Muscle Shoals ranks as #50 most affordable out of the 116 places we measured in Alabama. By definition, that implies Muscle Shoals ranks as the #66 most expensive place in the Heart of Dixie.
For more reading on life in Muscle Shoals, check out:
Muscle Shoals Cost Of Living Vs. Alabama
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Muscle Shoals. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Muscle Shoals is 95.
The Groceries index in Muscle Shoals is 95.
The Health index in Muscle Shoals is 85.
The Housing index in Muscle Shoals is 99.
The Transportation index in Muscle Shoals is 95.
The Utilities index in Muscle Shoals is 94.
| Living Expense | Muscle Shoals | Alabama | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 90 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 95 | 95 | 100 |
| Groceries | 95 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 85 | 74 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 96 | 100 |
| Transportation | 95 | 95 | 100 |
| Utilities | 94 | 95 | 100 |
Muscle Shoals 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 Muscle Shoals Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Muscle Shoals is $260,072.
The Median Rent in Muscle Shoals is $1,029.
The Median Income in Muscle Shoals is $75,894.
The Home Value To Income in Muscle Shoals is 3.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Muscle Shoals is 0.16x.
| Statistic | Muscle Shoals | Alabama | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $260,072 | $236,452 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,029 | $1,007 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $75,894 | $63,999 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.4x | 3.7x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.16x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
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
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 105, 1.2x Muscle Shoals.
Decatur, AL has a cost of living index of 87, 1.0x Muscle Shoals.
Florence, AL has a cost of living index of 88, 1.0x Muscle Shoals.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Muscle Shoals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, AL | 60,106 | 105 | 1.2x |
| Decatur, AL | 57,361 | 87 | 1.0x |
| Florence, AL | 41,701 | 88 | 1.0x |
| Athens, AL | 29,002 | 95 | 1.1x |
| Hartselle, AL | 15,847 | 91 | 1.0x |
| Lawrenceburg, TN | 11,844 | 85 | 0.9x |
| Russellville, AL | 10,799 | 85 | 0.9x |
| Sheffield, AL | 9,340 | 86 | 1.0x |
| Tuscumbia, AL | 9,115 | 86 | 1.0x |
| Pulaski, TN | 8,285 | 88 | 1.0x |
