Sheffield, AL Cost Of Living

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

Cost of living in Sheffield, Alabama

Cost of living in Sheffield 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 Sheffield 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:

86 Cost of living index 0.9x lower vs US
#19 Cheapest in Alabama (of 116)
#476 Cheapest in the U.S. (of 6,489)
$133,841 Median home value
$829 Median rent
$39,733 Median income
Not sure Sheffield fits your budget? Try our place-match quiz →

What is the cost of living in Sheffield, AL?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Sheffield has an overall cost of living index of 86, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Alabama, Sheffield has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Alabama's index of 91.

The standard of living in Sheffield ranks as #19 most affordable out of the 116 places we measured in Alabama. By definition, that implies Sheffield ranks as the #97 most expensive place in the Heart of Dixie.

For more reading on life in Sheffield, check out:

Sheffield Cost Of Living Vs. Alabama

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

  • The Services index in Sheffield is 96.

  • The Groceries index in Sheffield is 96.

  • The Health index in Sheffield is 59.

  • The Housing index in Sheffield is 100.

  • The Transportation index in Sheffield is 97.

  • The Utilities index in Sheffield is 94.

Living Expense Sheffield Alabama National Average
Overall 86 91 100
Services 96 95 100
Groceries 96 96 100
Health 59 74 100
Housing 100 96 100
Transportation 97 95 100
Utilities 94 95 100

Sheffield Cost Of Living Compared To Alabama Averages

Services
Sheffield 96
Alabama avg 95
Groceries
Sheffield 96
Alabama avg 96
Health
Sheffield 59
Alabama avg 74
Housing
Sheffield 100
Alabama avg 96
Transportation
Sheffield 97
Alabama avg 95
Utilities
Sheffield 94
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 Sheffield Get matched →

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

Sheffield, AL Housing Cost Breakdown

$133,841Median Home Value
$829Median Rent
$39,733Median 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 Sheffield is $133,841.

  • The Median Rent in Sheffield is $829.

  • The Median Income in Sheffield is $39,733.

  • The Home Value To Income in Sheffield is 3.4x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Sheffield is 0.25x.

Statistic Sheffield Alabama United States
Median Home Value $133,841 $236,452 $332,700
Median Rent $829 $1,007 $1,413
Median Income $39,733 $63,999 $80,734
Home Value To Income 3.4x 3.7x 4.1x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.25x 0.19x 0.21x

Sheffield, AL Costs By Category

Detailed Sheffield Services costs vs. Alabama
Item Sheffield 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 Sheffield Groceries costs vs. Alabama
Item Sheffield 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 Sheffield Health costs vs. Alabama
Item Sheffield Alabama
Optometrist $80.87 $125.68
Doctor $90.5 $135.78
Dentist $94.28 $113.29
Detailed Sheffield Transportation costs vs. Alabama
Item Sheffield Alabama
Gasoline $3.14 $3.46
Tire Balancing $52.0 $59.92
Detailed Sheffield Utilities costs vs. Alabama
Item Sheffield Alabama
All Electricity $180.93 $193.99
Phone $186.22 $192.25

Sheffield SnackAbility

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

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Sheffield

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

  • Decatur, AL has a cost of living index of 87, 1.0x Sheffield.

  • Florence, AL has a cost of living index of 88, 1.0x Sheffield.

  • Athens, AL has a cost of living index of 95, 1.1x Sheffield.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Sheffield
Decatur, AL 57,361 87 1.0x
Florence, AL 41,701 88 1.0x
Athens, AL 29,002 95 1.1x
Muscle Shoals, AL 16,951 90 1.0x
Hartselle, AL 15,847 91 1.1x
Corinth, MS 14,323 89 1.0x
Russellville, AL 10,799 85 1.0x
Booneville, MS 9,246 89 1.0x
Tuscumbia, AL 9,115 86 1.0x
Pulaski, TN 8,285 88 1.0x