Cost of Living in Mobile, AL
Mobile, AL — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Mobile, AL to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Mobile, AL?
With a price level of 88.1 (U.S. average = 100), Mobile, AL is one of the most affordable places in the country. In detail, housing costs are 40% 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 Mobile, AL vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 88.1 | −11.9% |
| Housing | 60.1 | −39.9% |
| Goods | 96.4 | −3.6% |
| Utilities | 84.2 | −15.8% |
| Other services | 96.7 | −3.3% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Mobile, AL
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $854 | $34,160/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $919 | $36,760/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,083 | $43,320/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,414 | $56,560/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,445 | $57,800/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Mobile, 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 Mobile, AL | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $35,200 | $28,968 |
| $60,000 | $52,900 | $42,305 |
| $80,000 | $70,500 | $55,167 |
| $100,000 | $88,100 | $66,668 |
| $150,000 | $132,100 | $95,216 |
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 Mobile, AL's median wage of $47,000 takes home about $3,155 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $919, which is 29% of take-home pay — within the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,236 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Mobile, AL
- Federal income tax$3,460
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,914
- Medicare (1.45%)$682
- Alabama income tax$2,085
- Take-home pay$37,860
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
Highest-paying jobs in Mobile, AL
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Manager | $106,690 | $78,817 | $89,465 |
| Registered Nurse | $79,490 | $61,042 | $69,288 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver | $51,010 | $40,881 | $46,404 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $42,840 | $34,725 | $39,416 |
| Customer Service Representative | $37,690 | $30,844 | $35,011 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $37,230 | $30,498 | $34,618 |
| Stocker and Order Filler | $35,070 | $28,870 | $32,771 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $30,420 | $25,366 | $28,793 |
| Retail Salesperson | $29,710 | $24,831 | $28,186 |
| Cashier | $28,240 | $23,719 | $26,923 |
| Waiter and Waitress | $26,860 | $22,651 | $25,711 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $23,510 | $20,060 | $22,770 |
*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.
Mobile, AL vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile, AL | 88.1 | $919 | $47,000 | 172,550 |
| Naples, FL | 103.2 | $1,797 | $47,800 | 173,880 |
| Visalia, CA | 99.8 | $1,123 | $45,130 | 171,140 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | 100.2 | $1,467 | $46,490 | 170,820 |
| Green Bay, WI | 93.1 | $915 | $49,940 | 174,550 |
| Reading, PA | 97.1 | $1,237 | $49,440 | 174,670 |
| Fort Collins, CO | 101.1 | $1,537 | $55,310 | 169,430 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Mobile, AL expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Mobile, AL metro area are 88.1% of the U.S. average, with housing at 60.1%. It is the #333 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Mobile, AL?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $52,859 in Mobile, AL (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $47,000.
Can you afford Mobile, AL on the median wage?
A single worker on the $47,000 median wage takes home about $3,155 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $919 would take 29% of that.
How much is rent in Mobile, AL?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Mobile, AL are $854 for a studio, $919 for one bedroom, $1,083 for two bedrooms and $1,414 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Mobile, AL
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $106,690
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $79,490
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Waiter and Waitress — $26,860
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $23,510
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
Sales and Related Occupations
- Retail Salesperson — $29,710
- Cashier — $28,240
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $42,840
- Customer Service Representative — $37,690
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $51,010
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $37,230
- Stocker and Order Filler — $35,070