Cost of Living in Tuscaloosa, AL
| Cost of Living in Tuscaloosa, AL | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 19% higher | 26% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 1% lower | 10% higher |
| Food | 4% higher | 3% lower |
| Healthcare | 6% lower | 21% lower |
| Transportation | 18% lower | 10% lower |
| Goods & Services | 2% lower | 6% lower |
The cost of living in Tuscaloosa, AL is 1% higher than the state average and 11% lower than the national average. Tuscaloosa, AL housing is 26% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 10% pricier. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 3% cheaper in Tuscaloosa, AL than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 6% less .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 21% 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 Tuscaloosa, 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 Tuscaloosa is $1,465, while home prices circle around $359,850.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Tuscaloosa, energy bills cost around $231.99 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 Tuscaloosa, a dozen eggs go for around $4.07 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.50.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Tuscaloosa, an optometry check-up costs around $93.45, while a dentist appointment is priced $75.98 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $2.93 in Tuscaloosa, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $56.50.
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 $36.27 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $35.06.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Tuscaloosa, you should budget around $14.78 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $25.33, while dry cleaning costs about $13.83.
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 Tuscaloosa, the median household income is $47,257.