Opelika, AL Cost Of Living

The latest cost of living statistics for Opelika. Includes statistics on rent, mortgages, healthcare, and other costs for Opelika compared to the state and national averages.

Cost of living in Opelika, Alabama

Cost of living in Opelika 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 Opelika 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:

90 Cost of living index 0.9x lower vs US
#50 Cheapest in Alabama (of 116)
#1,055 Cheapest in the U.S. (of 6,489)
$304,313 Median home value
$950 Median rent
$65,004 Median income
Not sure Opelika fits your budget? Try our place-match quiz →

What is the cost of living in Opelika, AL?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Opelika has an overall cost of living index of 90, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Alabama, Opelika has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Alabama's index of 91.

The standard of living in Opelika ranks as #50 most affordable out of the 116 places we measured in Alabama. By definition, that implies Opelika ranks as the #66 most expensive place in the Heart of Dixie.

For more reading on life in Opelika, check out:

Opelika Cost Of Living Vs. Alabama

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

  • The Services index in Opelika is 97.

  • The Groceries index in Opelika is 96.

  • The Health index in Opelika is 82.

  • The Housing index in Opelika is 99.

  • The Transportation index in Opelika is 95.

  • The Utilities index in Opelika is 97.

Living Expense Opelika Alabama National Average
Overall 90 91 100
Services 97 95 100
Groceries 96 96 100
Health 82 74 100
Housing 99 96 100
Transportation 95 95 100
Utilities 97 95 100

Opelika Cost Of Living Compared To Alabama Averages

Services
Opelika 97
Alabama avg 95
Groceries
Opelika 96
Alabama avg 96
Health
Opelika 82
Alabama avg 74
Housing
Opelika 99
Alabama avg 96
Transportation
Opelika 95
Alabama avg 95
Utilities
Opelika 97
Alabama avg 95

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 Opelika Get matched →

Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100

Opelika, AL Housing Cost Breakdown

$304,313Median Home Value
$950Median Rent
$65,004Median Income

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 Opelika is $304,313.

  • The Median Rent in Opelika is $950.

  • The Median Income in Opelika is $65,004.

  • The Home Value To Income in Opelika is 4.7x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Opelika is 0.18x.

Statistic Opelika Alabama United States
Median Home Value $304,313 $236,452 $332,700
Median Rent $950 $1,007 $1,413
Median Income $65,004 $63,999 $80,734
Home Value To Income 4.7x 3.7x 4.1x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.18x 0.19x 0.21x

Opelika, AL Costs By Category

Detailed Opelika Services costs vs. Alabama
Item Opelika Alabama
Shampoo $1.15 $1.28
Movie $13.16 $12.13
Bowling $20.0 $18
Haircut $21.67 $24.26
Beauty Salon $43.83 $45.56
Detailed Opelika Groceries costs vs. Alabama
Item Opelika Alabama
Ground Beef $5.64 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.67 $1.57
Milk $4.51 $4.67
Potatoes $5.41 $4.93
Pizza $12.32 $12.09
Beer $10.54 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.73 $3.7
Detailed Opelika Health costs vs. Alabama
Item Opelika Alabama
Optometrist $77.08 $125.68
Doctor $100.56 $135.78
Dentist $118.89 $113.29
Detailed Opelika Transportation costs vs. Alabama
Item Opelika Alabama
Gasoline $3.12 $3.46
Tire Balancing $56.77 $59.92
Detailed Opelika Utilities costs vs. Alabama
Item Opelika Alabama
All Electricity $227.8 $193.99
Phone $189.16 $192.25

Opelika SnackAbility

7Overall SnackAbility
Jobs 7/10
Housing 6/10
Affordability 8/10
Diversity 9/10
SafetyN/A
Amenities 8/10
Education 8/10
Commute 9/10

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Opelika

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

  • Columbus, GA has a cost of living index of 96, 1.1x Opelika.

  • Auburn, AL has a cost of living index of 104, 1.2x Opelika.

  • LaGrange, GA has a cost of living index of 93, 1.0x Opelika.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Opelika
Columbus, GA 203,711 96 1.1x
Auburn, AL 80,594 104 1.2x
LaGrange, GA 32,078 93 1.0x
Valley, AL 10,277 88 1.0x
Lanett, AL 6,814 84 0.9x
Smiths Station, AL 5,496 93 1.0x