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?
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.
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
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
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.
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.
All salaries in Auburn, AL
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $103,380
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Accountant and Auditor — $72,570
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $61,250
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $59,970
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education — $28,490
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $23,300
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $78,040
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Nursing Assistant — $35,530
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $25,570
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $36,470
- Cooks, Restaurant — $30,580
- Food Preparation Worker — $28,770
- Cooks, Fast Food — $27,120
- Waiter and Waitress — $26,470
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $24,600
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $34,940
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $30,470
Sales and Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $44,630
- Retail Salesperson — $29,140
- Cashier — $27,940
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $59,310
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $44,270
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $40,460
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $36,320
- Customer Service Representative — $35,810
- Office Clerks, General — $32,480
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $63,020
- Construction Laborer — $36,110
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic — $59,380
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $39,710
Production Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $68,890
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $37,840
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $34,530
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $49,210
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $44,160
- Stocker and Order Filler — $34,900
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $33,090