Cost of Living in Mobile, AL
| Cost of Living in Mobile, AL | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 8% higher | 33% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 13% lower | 3% lower |
| Food | 5% higher | 3% lower |
| Healthcare | 8% higher | 10% lower |
| Transportation | 16% lower | 8% lower |
| Goods & Services | 1% lower | 6% lower |
The cost of living in Mobile, AL is 1% lower than the state average and 13% lower than the national average. Mobile, AL housing is 33% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 3% less pricey. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 3% cheaper in Mobile, AL than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 6% less .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 10% less here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 6% cheaper in Mobile, AL.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Mobile is $1,148, while home prices circle around $281,712.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Mobile, energy bills cost around $181.30 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $4.57 in Mobile, a dozen eggs go for around $3.31 and a pound of potatoes circles around $5.23.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Mobile, an optometry check-up costs around $138.11, while a dentist appointment is priced $107.18 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.16 in Mobile, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $51.47.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $28.55 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $48.37.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Mobile, you should budget around $13.43 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $19.11, while dry cleaning costs about $13.75.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Mobile, the median household income is $51,090.