Cost of Living in Auburn, AL
Auburn-Opelika, AL — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Auburn, AL to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Auburn, AL?
With a price level of 87.9 (U.S. average = 100), Auburn, AL is one of the most affordable places in the country. In detail, housing costs are 38% below average; everyday goods are 4% below average; utilities are 16% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining are 3% below average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Auburn, AL vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 87.9 | −12.1% |
| Housing | 62.1 | −37.9% |
| Goods | 96.4 | −3.6% |
| Utilities | 83.9 | −16.1% |
| Other services | 96.7 | −3.3% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Auburn, AL
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $834 | $33,360/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,045 | $41,800/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,163 | $46,520/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,467 | $58,680/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,679 | $67,160/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Auburn, AL
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Auburn, AL | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $35,200 | $28,968 |
| $60,000 | $52,800 | $42,230 |
| $80,000 | $70,300 | $55,036 |
| $100,000 | $87,900 | $66,538 |
| $150,000 | $131,900 | $95,090 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Alabama 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Auburn, AL's median wage of $39,070 takes home about $2,657 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,045, which is 39% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $1,612 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Auburn, AL
- Federal income tax$2,508
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,422
- Medicare (1.45%)$567
- Alabama income tax$1,689
- Take-home pay$31,884
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in Auburn, AL
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $24,600 | $20,903 | $23,772 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Alabama cities
Half of Alabama’s 2,113,660 workers earn less than $45,670 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $32,050–$66,790 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Huntsville, AL stretches a paycheck furthest, while Daphne, AL is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | $47,770 | 91.6 | $1,115 | 35% | $2,088 | $41,945 |
| Huntsville, AL | $51,740 | 93.1 | $1,136 | 33% | $2,317 | $44,515 |
| Mobile, AL | $47,000 | 88.1 | $919 | 29% | $2,236 | $42,974 |
| Montgomery, AL | $44,950 | 89.7 | $870 | 29% | $2,156 | $40,493 |
| Columbus, GA | $43,540 | 89.3 | $936 | 32% | $2,002 | $39,478 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $45,220 | 87.7 | $943 | 31% | $2,100 | $41,630 |
| Daphne, AL | $38,520 | 94.7 | $1,200 | 46% | $1,422 | $33,235 |
| Auburn, AL | $39,070 | 87.9 | $1,045 | 39% | $1,612 | $36,260 |
| Decatur, AL | $46,280 | 87.2 | $776 | 25% | $2,334 | $42,789 |
| Dothan, AL | $38,170 | 83.8 | $751 | 29% | $1,850 | $37,224 |
| Florence, AL | $39,740 | 84.8 | $775 | 29% | $1,924 | $38,187 |
| Anniston, AL | $42,680 | 85.9 | $757 | 26% | $2,127 | $40,262 |
| Gadsden, AL | $36,660 | 85.7 | $792 | 32% | $1,714 | $35,105 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Auburn, AL vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn, AL | 87.9 | $1,045 | $39,070 | 72,710 |
| Prescott Valley, AZ | 98.3 | $1,309 | $46,330 | 72,300 |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | 98.3 | $1,302 | $47,750 | 72,280 |
| Bangor, ME | 96.5 | $1,218 | $47,960 | 72,270 |
| Bozeman, MT | 102.5 | $1,642 | $54,830 | 72,210 |
| Bloomington, IN | 95.1 | $1,036 | $47,660 | 73,240 |
| Kahului, HI | 109.4 | $2,000 | $57,640 | 73,750 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Auburn, AL expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Auburn-Opelika, AL metro area are 87.9% of the U.S. average, with housing at 62.1%. It is the #338 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Auburn, AL?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $52,760 in Auburn, AL (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $39,070.
Can you afford Auburn, AL on the median wage?
A single worker on the $39,070 median wage takes home about $2,657 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,045 would take 39% of that.
How much is rent in Auburn, AL?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Auburn, AL are $834 for a studio, $1,045 for one bedroom, $1,163 for two bedrooms and $1,467 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Auburn, AL
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $24,600