A+
14%
Overall NAT. AVG.
10%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
25%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Florence Alabama National
Cost of living8688100
Goods & Services9096100
Groceries9496100
Health care8387100
Housing7572100
Transportation9091100
Utilities95102100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Florence, AL

Understanding the cost of living in Florence can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Florence cost of living index is 86, which is 14% lower than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Florence?

When it comes to knowing a city, its residents are the experts. We conducted a survey with 5 locals to understand their opinions on the cost of living in Florence. The results indicated that 60% found it reasonably priced with decreasing prices of goods and services, while 40% viewed it as quite expensive, with increasing prices.

Is Florence Affordable?

Wondering if Florence is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Florence, for example, the median home price is 23.1% lower than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 31% lower than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Florence boasting a median household income of $39,735, which is 28.2% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Florence?

Urbanization: Larger, urban centers, known for their wealth of amenities and strong employment prospects, often exhibit an elevated cost of living, primarily attributable to the heightened demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this scenario leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural areas or regions characterized by diminished demand typically provide a more limited array of amenities and experience slower job market growth, resulting in a more affordable cost of living.

Transportation: In areas where public transportation is scarce or unavailable, residents often find themselves compelled to own and upkeep vehicles, thereby increasing the overall cost of living. Monthly expenses encompass fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potentially lease or financing payments. In Florence, the transportation index is 10.5% lower than the national average.

Healthcare: The costs associated with healthcare and insurance premiums can exhibit notable disparities based on the city or state of residence. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for medical appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs and specialized medical care expenses all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Florence, healthcare costs are 17.2% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Florence cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Florence is 3% lower than the Alabama average
  • The cost of living in Florence is 14% lower than the national average
  • Florence housing is 25% lower than the national average
  • Alabama general sales tax is 22% lower than the national average
  • Alabama state income tax is 23% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Florence

See all the best places to live around Florence

Compare Florence, AL Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$58,350$4,863$1,361$1,751
      Renters$24,684$2,057$576$741
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Florence, AL, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Florence, homeowners have a median income of $58,350. Using that number, a maximum of $1,361 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $24,684, which means there is a maximum of $576 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      Alabama Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Alabama 4% 13.5%

      Alabama Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Alabama 2% 5%

      Goods & Services

      Item Florence National avg. Difference
      Haircut $17.13$24.2629.4%
      Beauty Salon $32.58$45.5628.5%
      Toothpaste $3.74$3.700.9%
      Shampoo $1.04$1.2819.0%
      Movie $13.50$12.1311.2%
      Bowling $17.50$18.002.8%

      Groceries

      Item Florence National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.67$5.842.9%
      Fried Chicken $1.67$1.576.2%
      Milk $4.49$4.674.0%
      Potatoes $5.06$4.932.5%
      Pizza $9.73$12.0919.5%
      Beer $10.23$10.411.7%

      Health Care

      Item Florence National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $80.87$125.6835.7%
      Doctor $90.50$135.7833.3%
      Dentist $94.28$113.2916.8%
      Ibuprofen $10.04$10.655.8%
      Lipitor $519.93$468.6011.0%

      Housing

      Item Florence National avg. Difference
      Home Price $142,000.00$184,700.0023.1%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,703.27$2,346.6927.4%
      Apartment Rent $655.00$949.0031.0%

      Transportation

      Item Florence National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.14$3.469.4%
      Tire Balancing $52.00$59.9213.2%

      Utilities

      Item Florence National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $180.93$193.996.7%
      Phone $186.22$192.253.1%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Leighton, AL7897623.8%
      Sheffield, AL8,9258218.3%
      Underwood-Petersville, AL2,7078217.9%
      Tuscumbia, AL8,4458316.7%
      Littleville, AL9498514.8%
      Florence, AL40,6528614.0%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Danville, VA40,6688317.2%
      Hutchinson, KS40,6698613.7%
      Lakeshore, ON40,673n/a 
      Coram, NY40,63013433.7%
      Maplewood, MN40,6841054.8%
      Florence, AL40,6528614.0%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.