Before you decide to relocate to Alabama, it’s important to research the exact cost of living around the state. And that’s what we’re going to help you do.
These are the places in Alabama that cost a pretty penny — the most expensive cities in the state.
We used Saturday Night Science to compare the 2019-2023 American Community Survey on cost of living for the 104 places in Alabama with more than 5,000 people.
After we saved up for months and could finally afford it, we landed on this list of the ten most expensive cities in Alabama for 2025.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Alabama For 2025
What’s the most expensive place to live in Alabama? Well, HomeSnacks crunched the numbers and discovered that Mountain Brook is the most expensive place to live in Alabama.
Hamilton (the cheapest place to live in Alabama) can show these guys how to live on a budget in the coming years. Read on for how these places had costs rise faster than inflation.
And if you already knew these places were expensive, check out some more reading about Alabama and the most expensive cities in the country:
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Alabama For 2025
/10
Population: 22,160
Cost Of Living Index: 142
Median Income: $191,128
Average Home Price: $891,300
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.7x
More on Mountain Brook: Data
The overall cost of living in Mountain Brook is 142. The median income in Mountain Brook comes in at $191,128 and the average home value is $891,300 for 2025.
/10
Population: 38,704
Cost Of Living Index: 116
Median Income: $129,171
Average Home Price: $494,500
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.8x
More on Vestavia Hills: Data
The overall cost of living in Vestavia Hills is 116. The median income in Vestavia Hills comes in at $129,171 and the average home value is $494,500 for 2025.
/10
Population: 27,697
Cost Of Living Index: 112
Median Income: $108,386
Average Home Price: $502,300
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.6x
More on Homewood: Data
The overall cost of living in Homewood is 112. The median income in Homewood comes in at $108,386 and the average home value is $502,300 for 2025.
/10
Population: 92,401
Cost Of Living Index: 109
Median Income: $107,822
Average Home Price: $391,300
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.6x
More on Hoover: Data
The overall cost of living in Hoover is 109. The median income in Hoover comes in at $107,822 and the average home value is $391,300 for 2025.
/10
Population: 26,182
Cost Of Living Index: 106
Median Income: $120,794
Average Home Price: $351,500
Home Price To Income Ratio: 2.9x
More on Trussville: Data
The overall cost of living in Trussville is 106. The median income in Trussville comes in at $120,794 and the average home value is $351,500 for 2025.
/10
Population: 15,731
Cost Of Living Index: 106
Median Income: $110,056
Average Home Price: $339,400
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.1x
More on Chelsea: Data
The overall cost of living in Chelsea is 106. The median income in Chelsea comes in at $110,056 and the average home value is $339,400 for 2025.
/10
Population: 15,785
Cost Of Living Index: 105
Median Income: $73,873
Average Home Price: $367,000
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.0x
More on Gulf Shores: Data
The overall cost of living in Gulf Shores is 105. The median income in Gulf Shores comes in at $73,873 and the average home value is $367,000 for 2025.
/10
Population: 10,377
Cost Of Living Index: 105
Median Income: $101,574
Average Home Price: $314,000
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.1x
More on Spanish Fort: Data
The overall cost of living in Spanish Fort is 105. The median income in Spanish Fort comes in at $101,574 and the average home value is $314,000 for 2025.
/10
Population: 10,103
Cost Of Living Index: 105
Median Income: $121,687
Average Home Price: $375,000
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.1x
More on Pike Road: Data
The overall cost of living in Pike Road is 105. The median income in Pike Road comes in at $121,687 and the average home value is $375,000 for 2025.
/10
Population: 78,738
Cost Of Living Index: 103
Median Income: $56,123
Average Home Price: $342,400
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.1x
More on Auburn: Data
The overall cost of living in Auburn is 103. The median income in Auburn comes in at $56,123 and the average home value is $342,400 for 2025.
Methodology: How We Determined The Most Expensive Places To Live In The Heart of Dixie For 2025
The two most important things to think about when it comes to being able to afford a city in Alabama are:
- How much money do I make?
- How much do I have to spend to live there?
You need to understand your costs in the context of how much money you make.
For example, if the median household earns $100,000 and spends $40,000 on housing, it’s actually cheaper to live there than a place with a median income of $50,000 and housing costs of $21,000. You might spend more on housing, but you have more money overall to play with.
With that example in mind, we derived several statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2019-2023 around incomes and costs. They are:
- Overall Cost Of Living Index
- Median Home Price / Median Income (lower is better)
- Median Income / Median Rent (Higher is better)
- Median Home Price
You can then compare these metrics in each of the places in Alabama to figure out which is the most expensive.
You are left with a “Cost of Living Index” by taking the average rank of each of these metrics for each city.
So we used that cost of living index to rank all of the 104 places in Alabama that have more than 5,000 people.
The place with the highest cost of living in Alabama according to the data is Mountain Brook. We updated this article for 2025. This article is our tenth time ranking the most expensive places to live in Alabama.
Summary: Taking A Chunk Out Of Your Paycheck In Alabama For 2025
Well, there you have it, the places in Alabama that have the highest cost of living, with Mountain Brook ranking as the most expensive city in the Heart of Dixie.
The most expensive cities in Alabama are Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills, Homewood, Hoover, Trussville, Chelsea, Gulf Shores, Spanish Fort, Pike Road, and Auburn.
Here’s a look at the most affordable cities in Alabama according to the data:
- Hamilton
- Prichard
- Attalla
For more Alabama reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Alabama
- Cheapest Places To Live In Alabama
- Most Dangerous Cities In Alabama
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Alabama
- Safest Places In Alabama
- Worst Places To Live In Alabama
Most Expensive Cities In Alabama
| Rank | City | Cost Of Living | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Home/Income Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mountain Brook | 142 | 22,160 | $191,128 | $891,300 | 4.7x |
| 2 | Vestavia Hills | 116 | 38,704 | $129,171 | $494,500 | 3.8x |
| 3 | Homewood | 112 | 27,697 | $108,386 | $502,300 | 4.6x |
| 4 | Hoover | 109 | 92,401 | $107,822 | $391,300 | 3.6x |
| 5 | Trussville | 106 | 26,182 | $120,794 | $351,500 | 2.9x |
| 6 | Chelsea | 106 | 15,731 | $110,056 | $339,400 | 3.1x |
| 7 | Gulf Shores | 105 | 15,785 | $73,873 | $367,000 | 5.0x |
| 8 | Spanish Fort | 105 | 10,377 | $101,574 | $314,000 | 3.1x |
| 9 | Pike Road | 105 | 10,103 | $121,687 | $375,000 | 3.1x |
| 10 | Auburn | 103 | 78,738 | $56,123 | $342,400 | 6.1x |
| 11 | Madison | 103 | 58,335 | $131,436 | $367,900 | 2.8x |
| 12 | Orange Beach | 103 | 8,244 | $89,034 | $476,000 | 5.3x |
| 13 | Fairhope | 102 | 23,360 | $86,509 | $406,500 | 4.7x |
| 14 | Helena | 101 | 21,452 | $109,590 | $292,700 | 2.7x |
| 15 | Enterprise | 97 | 28,990 | $68,306 | $198,500 | 2.9x |
| 16 | Daphne | 97 | 28,673 | $86,479 | $309,700 | 3.6x |
| 17 | Pelham | 97 | 24,510 | $91,904 | $278,900 | 3.0x |
| 18 | Pleasant Grove | 97 | 9,502 | $68,344 | $189,100 | 2.8x |
| 19 | Margaret | 97 | 5,538 | $97,075 | $224,700 | 2.3x |
| 20 | Alabaster | 95 | 33,633 | $90,163 | $242,600 | 2.7x |
| 21 | Gardendale | 95 | 16,110 | $81,215 | $234,900 | 2.9x |
| 22 | Opelika | 94 | 31,944 | $58,763 | $213,700 | 3.6x |
| 23 | Guntersville | 94 | 8,771 | $67,448 | $293,500 | 4.4x |
| 24 | Huntsville | 93 | 218,814 | $70,778 | $263,100 | 3.7x |
| 25 | Tuscaloosa | 93 | 107,699 | $48,536 | $236,600 | 4.9x |
| 26 | Dothan | 93 | 71,118 | $55,052 | $186,600 | 3.4x |
| 27 | Northport | 93 | 30,991 | $77,781 | $258,800 | 3.3x |
| 28 | Calera | 93 | 17,188 | $82,441 | $214,200 | 2.6x |
| 29 | Clay | 93 | 10,288 | $86,163 | $198,400 | 2.3x |
| 30 | Fultondale | 93 | 9,753 | $69,127 | $181,900 | 2.6x |
| 31 | Foley | 92 | 22,330 | $67,346 | $260,100 | 3.9x |
| 32 | Leeds | 92 | 12,221 | $71,672 | $220,400 | 3.1x |
| 33 | Southside | 92 | 9,407 | $73,695 | $202,900 | 2.8x |
| 34 | Arab | 92 | 8,573 | $60,985 | $196,700 | 3.2x |
| 35 | Pinson | 92 | 7,851 | $80,349 | $194,300 | 2.4x |
| 36 | Oneonta | 92 | 6,943 | $47,719 | $195,600 | 4.1x |
| 37 | Phenix City | 91 | 38,477 | $49,715 | $160,000 | 3.2x |
| 38 | Millbrook | 91 | 16,923 | $64,522 | $193,600 | 3.0x |
| 39 | Scottsboro | 91 | 15,641 | $52,949 | $175,700 | 3.3x |
| 40 | Irondale | 91 | 13,462 | $71,240 | $250,000 | 3.5x |
| 41 | Moody | 91 | 13,378 | $86,389 | $222,500 | 2.6x |
| 42 | Montevallo | 91 | 7,429 | $54,665 | $210,400 | 3.8x |
| 43 | Saraland | 90 | 16,304 | $60,577 | $210,500 | 3.5x |
| 44 | Jacksonville | 90 | 14,345 | $47,146 | $179,600 | 3.8x |
| 45 | Pell City | 90 | 13,353 | $73,043 | $238,100 | 3.3x |
| 46 | Eufaula | 90 | 12,664 | $45,550 | $137,400 | 3.0x |
| 47 | Smiths Station | 90 | 5,443 | $57,410 | $184,400 | 3.2x |
| 48 | Prattville | 89 | 38,850 | $79,396 | $208,500 | 2.6x |
| 49 | Cullman | 89 | 18,894 | $63,704 | $215,200 | 3.4x |
| 50 | Hueytown | 89 | 16,541 | $62,362 | $142,900 | 2.3x |
| 51 | Center Point | 89 | 16,125 | $52,401 | $130,200 | 2.5x |
| 52 | Jasper | 89 | 14,480 | $66,250 | $208,000 | 3.1x |
| 53 | Satsuma | 89 | 6,784 | $97,550 | $199,800 | 2.0x |
| 54 | Rainsville | 89 | 5,613 | $64,140 | $207,800 | 3.2x |
| 55 | Albertville | 88 | 22,584 | $57,103 | $158,900 | 2.8x |
| 56 | Muscle Shoals | 88 | 16,670 | $70,927 | $198,300 | 2.8x |
| 57 | Alexander City | 88 | 14,686 | $42,367 | $135,900 | 3.2x |
| 58 | Rainbow City | 88 | 10,213 | $59,659 | $203,600 | 3.4x |
| 59 | Wetumpka | 88 | 7,182 | $54,945 | $184,100 | 3.4x |
| 60 | Lincoln | 88 | 7,135 | $60,793 | $181,900 | 3.0x |
| 61 | Decatur | 87 | 57,760 | $59,831 | $190,500 | 3.2x |
| 62 | Florence | 87 | 41,231 | $50,396 | $174,100 | 3.5x |
| 63 | Oxford | 87 | 22,063 | $70,065 | $164,700 | 2.4x |
| 64 | Troy | 87 | 17,733 | $47,595 | $214,100 | 4.5x |
| 65 | Valley | 87 | 10,406 | $55,422 | $130,500 | 2.4x |
| 66 | Sylacauga | 86 | 12,388 | $46,384 | $156,800 | 3.4x |
| 67 | Fairfield | 86 | 9,846 | $48,492 | $120,100 | 2.5x |
| 68 | Robertsdale | 86 | 6,985 | $55,707 | $198,200 | 3.6x |
| 69 | Opp | 86 | 6,752 | $41,346 | $117,000 | 2.8x |
| 70 | Tallassee | 86 | 5,056 | $63,534 | $138,600 | 2.2x |
| 71 | Athens | 85 | 27,474 | $65,000 | $253,700 | 3.9x |
| 72 | Bessemer | 85 | 25,655 | $37,844 | $129,800 | 3.4x |
| 73 | Ozark | 85 | 14,348 | $46,951 | $138,600 | 3.0x |
| 74 | Boaz | 85 | 10,847 | $49,962 | $158,200 | 3.2x |
| 75 | Bay Minette | 85 | 8,215 | $39,737 | $146,500 | 3.7x |
| 76 | Demopolis | 85 | 7,010 | $41,457 | $198,900 | 4.8x |
| 77 | Brewton | 85 | 5,232 | $48,766 | $144,400 | 3.0x |
| 78 | Birmingham | 84 | 199,322 | $44,376 | $138,600 | 3.1x |
| 79 | Montgomery | 84 | 198,440 | $55,687 | $148,500 | 2.7x |
| 80 | Mobile | 84 | 185,097 | $51,090 | $170,300 | 3.3x |
| 81 | Hartselle | 84 | 15,586 | $67,863 | $192,200 | 2.8x |
| 82 | Andalusia | 84 | 8,841 | $47,500 | $156,000 | 3.3x |
| 83 | Lanett | 84 | 6,854 | $42,415 | $98,700 | 2.3x |
| 84 | Chickasaw | 84 | 6,367 | $42,854 | $110,300 | 2.6x |
| 85 | Tarrant | 84 | 6,014 | $38,861 | $113,800 | 2.9x |
| 86 | Glencoe | 84 | 5,356 | $66,050 | $203,200 | 3.1x |
| 87 | Midfield | 84 | 5,101 | $51,776 | $93,700 | 1.8x |
| 88 | Fort Payne | 83 | 14,886 | $48,623 | $158,100 | 3.3x |
| 89 | Clanton | 83 | 8,862 | $49,952 | $158,200 | 3.2x |
| 90 | Atmore | 83 | 8,389 | $33,104 | $128,900 | 3.9x |
| 91 | Greenville | 83 | 7,229 | $40,744 | $117,800 | 2.9x |
| 92 | Roanoke | 83 | 5,332 | $48,083 | $129,100 | 2.7x |
| 93 | Sheffield | 82 | 9,334 | $42,097 | $127,100 | 3.0x |
| 94 | Tuscumbia | 82 | 9,084 | $47,342 | $166,400 | 3.5x |
| 95 | Tuskegee | 82 | 9,070 | $38,160 | $98,500 | 2.6x |
| 96 | Anniston | 81 | 21,377 | $44,806 | $141,600 | 3.2x |
| 97 | Talladega | 81 | 15,041 | $46,820 | $116,600 | 2.5x |
| 98 | Monroeville | 81 | 5,875 | $31,629 | $115,800 | 3.7x |
| 99 | Gadsden | 80 | 33,617 | $38,699 | $101,900 | 2.6x |
| 100 | Selma | 80 | 17,442 | $32,184 | $102,500 | 3.2x |