Cost of Living in Daphne, AL
Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Daphne, AL to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Daphne, AL?
With a price level of 94.7 (U.S. average = 100), Daphne, AL is cheaper than average. In detail, housing costs are 11% below average; everyday goods are 4% below average; utilities are 17% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining are 3% below average. The biggest difference from the national average is in utilities.
Prices in Daphne, AL vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 94.7 | −5.3% |
| Housing | 89.2 | −10.8% |
| Goods | 96.4 | −3.6% |
| Utilities | 83.3 | −16.7% |
| Other services | 96.7 | −3.3% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Daphne, AL
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,094 | $43,760/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,200 | $48,000/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,345 | $53,800/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,692 | $67,680/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,171 | $86,840/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Daphne, 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 Daphne, AL | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $37,900 | $31,003 |
| $60,000 | $56,800 | $45,244 |
| $80,000 | $75,800 | $58,630 |
| $100,000 | $94,700 | $70,981 |
| $150,000 | $142,000 | $101,488 |
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 Daphne, AL's median wage of $38,520 takes home about $2,622 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,200, which is 46% of take-home pay — well above the 30% guideline, so many workers here share housing or rent smaller units. That leaves about $1,422 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Daphne, AL
- Federal income tax$2,442
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,388
- Medicare (1.45%)$559
- Alabama income tax$1,661
- Take-home pay$31,470
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in Daphne, AL
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Salesperson | $29,600 | $24,749 | $26,136 |
| Cashier | $28,380 | $23,827 | $25,163 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $27,080 | $22,821 | $24,101 |
*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.
Daphne, AL vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daphne, AL | 94.7 | $1,200 | $38,520 | 87,120 |
| Joplin, MO | 85.7 | $756 | $44,980 | 87,190 |
| Monroe, LA | 83.6 | $772 | $38,150 | 87,500 |
| Bloomington, IL | 93.5 | $999 | $53,140 | 88,110 |
| Eau Claire, WI | 92.8 | $962 | $48,100 | 86,060 |
| Florence, SC | 86.8 | $922 | $43,520 | 89,060 |
| Medford, OR | 101.4 | $1,229 | $49,900 | 89,060 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Daphne, AL expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL metro area are 94.7% of the U.S. average, with housing at 89.2%. It is the #174 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Daphne, AL?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $56,814 in Daphne, AL (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $38,520.
Can you afford Daphne, AL on the median wage?
A single worker on the $38,520 median wage takes home about $2,622 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,200 would take 46% of that.
How much is rent in Daphne, AL?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Daphne, AL are $1,094 for a studio, $1,200 for one bedroom, $1,345 for two bedrooms and $1,692 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Daphne, AL
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Waiter and Waitress — $27,080
Sales and Related Occupations
- Retail Salesperson — $29,600
- Cashier — $28,380