Cost of Living in Decatur, AL
Decatur, AL — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Decatur, AL to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
Prices in Decatur, AL vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 87.2 | −12.8% |
| Housing | 58.1 | −41.9% |
| Goods | 96.4 | −3.6% |
| Utilities | 84.7 | −15.3% |
| Other services | 96.7 | −3.3% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Decatur, AL
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $755 | $30,200/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $776 | $31,040/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $961 | $38,440/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,262 | $50,480/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,550 | $62,000/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Take-home pay in Decatur, AL
- Federal income tax$3,374
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,869
- Medicare (1.45%)$671
- Alabama income tax$2,049
- Take-home pay$37,317
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in Decatur, AL
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Frequently asked questions
Is Decatur, AL expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Decatur, AL metro area are 87.2% of the U.S. average, with housing at 58.1%. It is the #350 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Decatur, AL?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $52,327 in Decatur, AL (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $46,280.
How much is rent in Decatur, AL?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Decatur, AL are $755 for a studio, $776 for one bedroom, $961 for two bedrooms and $1,262 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
All salaries in Decatur, AL
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $117,380
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Accountant and Auditor — $72,030
Architecture and Engineering Occupations
- Industrial Engineer — $106,230
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $68,320
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Nursing Assistant — $36,280
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $27,430
Protective Service Occupations
- Security Guard — $38,500
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,310
- Cooks, Fast Food — $28,480
- Waiter and Waitress — $27,010
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $25,720
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $71,110
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $47,090
- Retail Salesperson — $31,550
- Cashier — $28,880
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $60,720
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $46,060
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $43,900
- Customer Service Representative — $41,070
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $74,330
- Electrician — $63,930
- Construction Laborer — $37,680
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers — $82,200
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic — $76,990
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $48,520
Production Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $84,270
- Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender — $82,170
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $56,990
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $45,240
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $43,120
- Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers — $36,760
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $59,390
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $44,020
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $36,160
- Stocker and Order Filler — $32,120