What is the cost of living in Tuscaloosa, AL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Tuscaloosa has an overall cost of living index of 98, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Alabama, Tuscaloosa has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Alabama's index of 91.
The standard of living in Tuscaloosa ranks as #90 most affordable out of the 116 places we measured in Alabama. By definition, that implies Tuscaloosa ranks as the #26 most expensive place in the Heart of Dixie.
For more reading on life in Tuscaloosa, check out:
Tuscaloosa Cost Of Living Vs. Alabama
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Tuscaloosa. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Tuscaloosa is 99.
The Groceries index in Tuscaloosa is 96.
The Health index in Tuscaloosa is 103.
The Housing index in Tuscaloosa is 99.
The Transportation index in Tuscaloosa is 98.
The Utilities index in Tuscaloosa is 105.
| Living Expense | Tuscaloosa | Alabama | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 98 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 95 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 103 | 74 | 100 |
| Housing | 99 | 96 | 100 |
| Transportation | 98 | 95 | 100 |
| Utilities | 105 | 95 | 100 |
Tuscaloosa 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 Tuscaloosa Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Tuscaloosa, 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 Tuscaloosa is $228,947.
The Median Rent in Tuscaloosa is $1,055.
The Median Income in Tuscaloosa is $51,464.
The Home Value To Income in Tuscaloosa is 4.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Tuscaloosa is 0.25x.
| Statistic | Tuscaloosa | Alabama | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $228,947 | $236,452 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,055 | $1,007 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $51,464 | $63,999 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.4x | 3.7x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.25x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Tuscaloosa, AL Costs By Category
Detailed Tuscaloosa Services costs vs. Alabama
| Item | Tuscaloosa | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.33 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.54 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $16.37 | $18 |
| Haircut | $20.07 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $45.74 | $45.56 |
Detailed Tuscaloosa Groceries costs vs. Alabama
| Item | Tuscaloosa | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.01 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.66 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.54 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.23 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.99 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.4 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.76 | $3.7 |
Detailed Tuscaloosa Health costs vs. Alabama
| Item | Tuscaloosa | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $92.33 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $101.83 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $125.78 | $113.29 |
Detailed Tuscaloosa Transportation costs vs. Alabama
| Item | Tuscaloosa | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.13 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $54.52 | $59.92 |
Detailed Tuscaloosa Utilities costs vs. Alabama
| Item | Tuscaloosa | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $219.4 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $188.55 | $192.25 |
Tuscaloosa SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Tuscaloosa
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Tuscaloosa. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Birmingham, AL has a cost of living index of 90, 0.9x Tuscaloosa.
Northport, AL has a cost of living index of 97, 1.0x Tuscaloosa.
Homewood, AL has a cost of living index of 124, 1.3x Tuscaloosa.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Tuscaloosa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 198,173 | 90 | 0.9x |
| Northport, AL | 31,218 | 97 | 1.0x |
| Homewood, AL | 27,829 | 124 | 1.3x |
| Bessemer, AL | 25,400 | 86 | 0.9x |
| Pelham, AL | 24,827 | 100 | 1.0x |
| Helena, AL | 21,769 | 102 | 1.0x |
| Calera, AL | 17,714 | 98 | 1.0x |
| Hueytown, AL | 16,414 | 87 | 0.9x |
| Jasper, AL | 14,442 | 91 | 0.9x |
| Fairfield, AL | 9,728 | 85 | 0.9x |
