D
13%
Overall NAT. AVG.
2%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
49%
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 Meadowbrook Alabama National
Cost of living11388100
Goods & Services9896100
Groceries9796100
Health care9487100
Housing14972100
Transportation9191100
Utilities108102100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Meadowbrook, AL

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Meadowbrook? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Meadowbrook stands at 113, making it 13% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

Housing costs are a major factor in the Meadowbrook cost of living index, and they often eat up a big chunk of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, housing expenses for both homeownership and rentals were 48.7% higher than what's typical in an average city. That includes the prices of homes and rents, as well as mortgage rates and insurance.

Is Meadowbrook Affordable?

Is Meadowbrook an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Meadowbrook, the median home price is 58.7% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 25.2% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Meadowbrook come in at $120,625, which is 118% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Meadowbrook?

Groceries: Grocery prices have seen substantial hikes in the last 2-3 years, with some markets witnessing food cost increases of over 20% during this period. Conversely, certain markets have experienced only moderate upticks. These variations in food expenses can have a substantial impact on the overall cost of living in any locality. In Meadowbrook, the groceries index is 3.3% lower than the national average.

Taxes: Regions that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an increased cost of living. Higher taxes for everyday necessities such as clothing, utilities and food inevitably leads to higher expenditures. Additionally, a higher income tax rate can also play a role in elevating the overall cost of living. In Meadowbrook, the prevailing sales tax rate starts at 4%, and income tax rates kick off at 2%.

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any other goods or services, utility expenditures can exhibit substantial variability, influenced by factors such as climate, energy sources accessibility, geographical location and state regulations. Costs related to electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, whether higher or lower, contingent on the city or state. In Meadowbrook, the utilities index is 7.5% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Meadowbrook cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Meadowbrook is 28% higher than the Alabama average
  • The cost of living in Meadowbrook is 13% higher than the national average
  • Meadowbrook housing is 49% higher 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 Meadowbrook

See all the best places to live around Meadowbrook

Compare Meadowbrook, 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$128,000$10,667$2,986$3,840
      Renters$88,826$7,402$2,072$2,665
      To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in Meadowbrook, AL, we can look at the percentage of income that is available to be spent on monthly housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). To stay on the safe side, a consumer should not spend more than 28% of his or her gross income on housing-related expenses and costs and not more than 36% of income on all expenses and debts. Homeowners in Meadowbrook have a median income of $128,000. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $2,986 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $88,826, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $2,072.

      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 Meadowbrook National avg. Difference
      Haircut $20.07$24.2617.3%
      Beauty Salon $45.74$45.560.4%
      Toothpaste $3.76$3.701.6%
      Shampoo $1.33$1.284.1%
      Movie $12.54$12.133.3%
      Bowling $16.37$18.009.1%

      Groceries

      Item Meadowbrook National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.01$5.843.0%
      Fried Chicken $1.66$1.575.5%
      Milk $4.54$4.672.9%
      Potatoes $5.23$4.936.0%
      Pizza $10.99$12.099.1%
      Beer $10.40$10.410.1%

      Health Care

      Item Meadowbrook National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $92.33$125.6826.5%
      Doctor $101.83$135.7825.0%
      Dentist $125.78$113.2911.0%
      Ibuprofen $10.28$10.653.5%
      Lipitor $460.79$468.601.7%

      Housing

      Item Meadowbrook National avg. Difference
      Home Price $293,200.00$184,700.0058.7%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,935.73$2,346.6917.5%
      Apartment Rent $1,188.00$949.0025.2%

      Transportation

      Item Meadowbrook National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.13$3.469.7%
      Tire Balancing $54.52$59.929.0%

      Utilities

      Item Meadowbrook National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $219.40$193.9913.1%
      Phone $188.55$192.251.9%
      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.
      Brantleyville, AL8107722.6%
      Edgewater, AL8328218.1%
      Brighton, AL2,8738317.4%
      Lipscomb, AL2,0558416.3%
      Tarrant, AL6,2168614.3%
      Meadowbrook, AL10,11011313.0%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Olds, AB10,106n/a 
      Citrus, CA10,10515150.9%
      Saint-Hippolyte, QC10,115n/a 
      Linthicum, MD10,11612222.4%
      Rotonda, FL10,11711010.0%
      Meadowbrook, AL10,11011313.0%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.