Home › AL › Tuscaloosa, AL 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, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 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 Scope US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 89.1 metro-area #18 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 94.6 metro-area #52 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.07 metro-area #17 of 200 Median household income $58,132 metro-area #183 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $33,648 metro-area #186 of 200
Who lives here Metric Value Scope US rank Median age 34.3 years metro-area #19 of 200 Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 28.6% metro-area #149 of 200 Foreign-born residents 3.8% metro-area #182 of 200 Homes that are owner-occupied 64.1% metro-area #126 of 200
Economy Metric Value Scope US rank Unemployment rate 5.59% metro-area #133 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +13.9% metro-area #14 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value Scope US rank Median home price $223,201 metro-area #25 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 3.8× metro-area #36 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +0.4% metro-area #128 of 200 Price per square foot $109 metro-area #20 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 2,050 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,485 metro-area #74 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 1,070 Median days on market 28 metro-area #148 of 200
Taxes Metric Value Scope US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 9.8% state #78 of 200 Combined sales tax 9.25% state #174 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 5.00% Capital gains tax 5.00% state #115 of 200 High earners No special surtax Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits Effective property tax rate 0.33% metro-area #4 of 200 Median property tax paid $663 metro-area #3 of 200
Health & childcare Metric Value Scope US rank Life expectancy at birth 74.0 years metro-area #172 of 200 Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,200 state #10 of 200 Uninsured (share of residents) 9.1% metro-area #112 of 200 Primary care providers per 100k 58 metro-area #174 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $7,000 state #5 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value Scope US rank Annual registration $90 state #74 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) 0.70% of value (~$196/yr) state #134 of 200 Emissions testing Not required Emissions detail No vehicle emissions testing DMV & license offices 4 Avg commute to work 24 min metro-area #101 of 200 Commute by driving alone 80.6% metro-area #182 of 200 Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 32.5% metro-area #113 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value Scope US rank Electricity 17.4¢/kWh state #116 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $157 state #116 of 200 Gasoline $2.95/gal state #3 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $78 state #139 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $117 state #121 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $76 state #20 of 200
Insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Home insurance (annual) $2,400 state #139 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,900 state #86 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 82.9 — Relatively Moderate metro-area #46 of 200 Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $800 state #120 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 state #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value Scope US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 37 metro-area #16 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 2,000 metro-area #138 of 200 Homes with air conditioning (state) 94% state #64 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 2,600 metro-area #70 of 200 Days per year ≥ 90°F 72 metro-area #155 of 200 Days per year ≥ 100°F 4 metro-area #163 of 200 Avg summer high (state) 91°F metro-area #136 of 200 Avg winter low 33°F metro-area #83 of 200 Annual precipitation 56.6" metro-area #186 of 200 Annual snowfall 1.4" metro-area #63 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 62% metro-area #64 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 8a Frost window 03-10 → 11-20
Safety Metric Value Scope US rank Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 450 state #134 of 200 Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 2,500 state #151 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value Scope US rank Grocery stores 120 metro-area #5 of 200 Parks 60 Hiking areas 15 Golf courses 15 Shooting ranges 4 Lakes 4
Permits Metric Value Scope US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 2 state #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.
Salaries by occupation in Tuscaloosa Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →
Occupation Median pay Dentists $157,290 Pharmacists $133,170 Financial Managers $126,740 Human Resources Managers $106,780 Mechanical Engineers $103,660 Physical Therapists $102,940 General & Operations Managers $100,110 Lawyers $98,140 Software Developers $94,990 Data Scientists $91,470 Civil Engineers $89,460 Marketing Managers $87,580 Construction Managers $83,210 Accountants & Auditors $67,940 Web Developers $66,230 Registered Nurses $66,180 Real Estate Sales Agents $60,170 Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $59,470 Dental Hygienists $57,500 Electricians $53,980 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $53,080 Elementary School Teachers $50,340 Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $49,490 Graphic Designers $48,050 Welders, Cutters & Solderers $47,220 Carpenters $46,180 Medical Assistants $32,520
Cities in the Tuscaloosa area
What your paycheck is really worth, city by city — cost of living, taxes,
housing and pay across 200 US metros and 3,220 towns.
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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 from Google Maps public listings.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.
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