Home › AL › Mobile, AL Cost of living in Mobile, AL Livability score 73 · cost-of-living index 88.7 (US = 100)
How Mobile compares Where Mobile falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 89 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 89 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $198k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $198k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $97 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $97 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 9.3% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 9.3% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 0.49% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.49% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 450 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 450 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 17.4 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 17.4 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 91° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 91° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 33° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 33° Map of Mobile Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
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Cost of living Metric Value Scope US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 88.7 metro-area #12 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 94.6 metro-area #52 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.05 metro-area #12 of 200 Median household income $55,247 metro-area #191 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $36,872 metro-area #149 of 200
Who lives here Metric Value Scope US rank Median age 38.4 years metro-area #98 of 200 Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 25.1% metro-area #172 of 200 Foreign-born residents 3.3% metro-area #187 of 200 Homes that are owner-occupied 64.9% metro-area #119 of 200
Economy Metric Value Scope US rank Unemployment rate 5.91% metro-area #151 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +3.6% metro-area #104 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value Scope US rank Median home price $197,857 metro-area #9 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 3.6× metro-area #25 of 200 1-yr home appreciation -0.4% metro-area #142 of 200 Price per square foot $97 metro-area #5 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 2,050 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,323 metro-area #32 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 1,772 Median days on market 24 metro-area #137 of 200
Taxes Metric Value Scope US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 9.8% state #78 of 200 Combined sales tax 9.25% state #174 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 5.00% Capital gains tax 5.00% state #115 of 200 High earners No special surtax Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits Effective property tax rate 0.49% metro-area #16 of 200 Median property tax paid $801 metro-area #6 of 200
Health & childcare Metric Value Scope US rank Life expectancy at birth 72.6 years metro-area #195 of 200 Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,200 state #10 of 200 Uninsured (share of residents) 11.8% metro-area #151 of 200 Primary care providers per 100k 71 metro-area #119 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $7,000 state #5 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value Scope US rank Annual registration $90 state #74 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) 0.70% of value (~$196/yr) state #134 of 200 Emissions testing Not required Emissions detail No vehicle emissions testing DMV & license offices 6 Avg commute to work 26 min metro-area #142 of 200 Commute by driving alone 83.2% metro-area #197 of 200 Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 36.5% metro-area #141 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value Scope US rank Electricity 17.4¢/kWh state #116 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $157 state #116 of 200 Gasoline $2.95/gal state #3 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $78 state #139 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $117 state #121 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $76 state #20 of 200
Insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Home insurance (annual) $2,400 state #139 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,900 state #86 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 98.0 — Relatively High metro-area #175 of 200 Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $800 state #120 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 state #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value Scope US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 45 metro-area #91 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 2,000 metro-area #138 of 200 Homes with air conditioning (state) 94% state #64 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 2,600 metro-area #70 of 200 Days per year ≥ 90°F 65 metro-area #145 of 200 Days per year ≥ 100°F 1 metro-area #105 of 200 Avg summer high (state) 91°F metro-area #136 of 200 Avg winter low 33°F metro-area #83 of 200 Annual precipitation 56.6" metro-area #186 of 200 Annual snowfall 1.4" metro-area #63 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 62% metro-area #64 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 8a Frost window 03-10 → 11-20
Safety Metric Value Scope US rank Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 450 state #134 of 200 Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 2,500 state #151 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value Scope US rank Grocery stores 35 metro-area #133 of 200 Parks 18 Hiking areas 6 Golf courses 22 Shooting ranges 2 Lakes 3
Permits Metric Value Scope US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 2 state #1 of 200 Permit detail Generally easy
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
Top employers in Mobile Major public and private employers in the Mobile, AL area.
Employer Sector Jobs Mobile County Public Schools Education Careers → Infirmary Health System Healthcare Careers → Austal USA Manufacturing Careers → USA Medical Facilities Healthcare Search → City of Mobile Government Careers →
Salaries by occupation in Mobile Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →
Occupation Median pay Dentists $160,040 Pharmacists $132,660 Financial Managers $125,460 Lawyers $124,130 Human Resources Managers $106,300 Mechanical Engineers $101,830 General & Operations Managers $101,240 Software Developers $99,700 Physician Assistants $98,850 Civil Engineers $97,280 Web Developers $97,040 Marketing Managers $95,760 Physical Therapists $92,410 Construction Managers $88,040 Data Scientists $80,020 Registered Nurses $65,190 Accountants & Auditors $63,790 Elementary School Teachers $60,150 Real Estate Sales Agents $59,120 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $58,280 Welders, Cutters & Solderers $57,820 Electricians $57,700 Dental Hygienists $56,160 Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $51,820 Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $47,980 Graphic Designers $43,110 Carpenters $41,930 Medical Assistants $33,800
Cities in the Mobile area
What your paycheck is really worth, city by city — cost of living, taxes,
housing and pay across 200 US metros and 3,220 towns.
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts from Google Maps public listings.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.
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