Selma, AL Cost Of Living

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

Cost Of Living In Selma, AL Summary

Cost of living in Selma 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 Selma 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 Selma is 83, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Selma is 0.8x lower than the national average.

  • Selma ranks as the #7 cheapest in Alabama out of 119.

  • Selma ranks as the #306 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.

  • The median home value in Selma is $69,055.

  • The median income in Selma is $32,184.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
83
Selma's Overall Cost Of Living
0.8x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Selma, AL?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Selma has an overall cost of living index of 83, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Alabama, Selma has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Alabama's index of 90.

The standard of living in Selma ranks as #7 most affordable out of the 119 places we measured in Alabama. By definition, that implies Selma ranks as the #112 most expensive place in the Heart of Dixie.

For more reading on life in Selma, check out:

7 out of 119
In Alabama
306 out of 6,489
In America

Selma Cost Of Living Vs. Alabama

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

  • The Services index in Selma is 92.

  • The Groceries index in Selma is 98.

  • The Health index in Selma is 78.

  • The Housing index in Selma is 55.

  • The Transportation index in Selma is 94.

  • The Utilities index in Selma is 105.

Living Expense Selma Alabama National Average
Overall 83 90 100
Services 92 97 100
Groceries 98 98 100
Health 78 86 100
Housing 55 74 100
Transportation 94 93 100
Utilities 105 102 100
For more reading on cost of living around Alabama, check out:
Selma Cost of Living Vs. AL

Selma, 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 Selma is $69,055.

  • The Median Rent in Selma is $723.

  • The Median Income in Selma is $32,184.

  • The Home Value To Income in Selma is 2.1x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Selma is 0.27x.

Statistic Selma Alabama United States
Median Home Value $69,055 $232,780 $303,400
Median Rent $723 $963 $1,348
Median Income $32,184 $62,027 $78,538
Home Value To Income 2.1x 3.8x 3.9x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.27x 0.19x 0.21x
$69,055
Median Home Value
$723
Median Rent
$32,184
Median Income

Selma, AL Costs By Category

Detailed Selma Services Costs Vs. Alabama

Item Selma Alabama
Shampoo $1.31 $1.28
Movie $9.44 $12.13
Bowling $12.0 $18
Haircut $23.07 $24.26
Beauty Salon $43.53 $45.56

Detailed Selma Groceries Costs Vs. Alabama

Item Selma Alabama
Ground Beef $5.97 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.67 $1.57
Milk $4.55 $4.67
Potatoes $5.2 $4.93
Pizza $11.39 $12.09
Beer $10.73 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.65 $3.7

Detailed Selma Health Costs Vs. Alabama

Item Selma Alabama
Optometrist $93.6 $125.68
Doctor $104.44 $135.78
Dentist $73.11 $113.29

Detailed Selma Transportation Costs Vs. Alabama

Item Selma Alabama
Gasoline $3.18 $3.46
Tire Balancing $54.09 $59.92

Detailed Selma Utilities Costs Vs. Alabama

Item Selma Alabama
All Electricity $201.74 $193.99
Phone $200.7 $192.25

Selma SnackAbility

5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
3/10
Housing
4
Affordability
5
Diversity
7
Safety
N/A
Amenities
8.5
Education
6
Commute
8

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Selma

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

  • Montgomery, AL has a cost of living index of 89, 1.1x Selma.

  • Prattville, AL has a cost of living index of 94, 1.1x Selma.

  • Millbrook, AL has a cost of living index of 94, 1.1x Selma.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Selma
Montgomery, AL 198,440 89 1.1x
Prattville, AL 38,850 94 1.1x
Millbrook, AL 16,923 94 1.1x

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