Cost of living in Tuscaloosa, AL Livability score 74 · cost-of-living index 89.1 (US = 100)
How Tuscaloosa compares Where Tuscaloosa falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 89 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 89 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $223k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $223k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $109 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $109 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 9.3% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 9.3% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 0.33% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.33% Violent crime (per 100k) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k): 450 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 450 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 17.4 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 17.4 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 91° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 91° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 33° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 33° Map of Tuscaloosa Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps
Cost of living Metric Value US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 89.1 #18 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 94.6 #52 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.07 #17 of 200 Median household income $58,132 #183 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $33,648 #186 of 200
Economy Metric Value US rank Unemployment rate 5.59% #133 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +13.9% #14 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value US rank Median home price $223,201 #25 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 3.8× #36 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +0.4% #128 of 200 Price per square foot $109 #20 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 2,050 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,485 #74 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 1,070 Median days on market 28 #148 of 200
Taxes Metric Value US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 9.8% #78 of 200 Combined sales tax 9.25% #174 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 5.00% Capital gains tax 5.00% #115 of 200 High earners No special surtax Effective property tax rate 0.33% #4 of 200 Median property tax paid $663 #3 of 200
Healthcare & childcare Metric Value US rank Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,200 #10 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $7,000 #5 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value US rank Annual registration $90 #74 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) 0.70% of value (~$196/yr) #134 of 200 Emissions testing Not required Emissions detail No vehicle emissions testing DMV & license offices 4 Avg commute to work 24 min #101 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value US rank Electricity 17.4¢/kWh #116 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $157 #116 of 200 Gasoline $2.95/gal #3 of 200
Insurance Metric Value US rank Home insurance (annual) $2,400 #139 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,900 #86 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $800 #120 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 37 #16 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 2,000 #138 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 2,600 #70 of 200 Avg summer high 91°F #136 of 200 Avg winter low 33°F #83 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 8a Frost window 03-10 → 11-20
Safety Metric Value US rank Violent crime (per 100k) 450 #134 of 200 Property crime (per 100k) 2,500 #151 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value US rank Grocery stores 120 #5 of 200 Parks 60 Hiking areas 15 Golf courses 15 Shooting ranges 4 Lakes 4
Permits Metric Value US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 2 #1 of 200 Permit detail Generally easy
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts (Google Maps listings) via our own scraper.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.