A-
7%
Overall NAT. AVG.
3%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
18%
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 Opelika Alabama National
Cost of living9388100
Goods & Services9896100
Groceries9796100
Health care9287100
Housing8272100
Transportation9291100
Utilities110102100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Opelika, AL

The cost of living in Opelika affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Opelika is 93, which is 7% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

Everyday expenditures like food, housing, goods and services, transportation and health care in Opelika are priced in a manner consistent with other areas. This means that residents of Opelika can anticipate their daily expenses remaining reasonably similar to those in an average city, thereby supporting a manageable cost of living.

Is Opelika Affordable?

Is Opelika 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 Opelika, the median home price is 16.9% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 20.5% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Opelika come in at $50,488, which is 8.7% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Opelika?

Urbanization: Larger, urban areas boasting abundant amenities and robust employment prospects often exhibit a heightened cost of living, driven by the increased demand for services and residential relocation. Consequently, this leads to elevated home prices and higher rental rates. In contrast, sparsely populated rural locales or regions marked by diminished demand typically offer a more limited range of amenities and experience slower job market expansion. This translates into a more affordable cost of living.

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 Opelika, 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 Opelika, the utilities index is 10.3% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Opelika 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. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates 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 Opelika is 5% higher than the Alabama average
  • The cost of living in Opelika is 7% lower than the national average
  • Opelika housing is 18% 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 Opelika

See all the best places to live around Opelika

Compare Opelika, 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$66,458$5,538$1,551$1,994
      Renters$27,516$2,293$642$826
      A good indicator of the general affordability of housing in Opelika, AL, is the percentage of monthly income that should be spent on housing expenses, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Generally speaking, no more than 28 percent of your total gross income should be spent on your housing expenses and not more than 36 percent of your gross income on total expenses, including debts. In Opelika, the median monthly income is $66,458 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $1,551 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $27,516, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $642 on monthly rental expenses.

      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 Opelika National avg. Difference
      Haircut $21.67$24.2610.7%
      Beauty Salon $43.83$45.563.8%
      Toothpaste $3.73$3.700.7%
      Shampoo $1.15$1.289.9%
      Movie $13.16$12.138.5%
      Bowling $20.00$18.0011.1%

      Groceries

      Item Opelika National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.64$5.843.4%
      Fried Chicken $1.67$1.576.2%
      Milk $4.51$4.673.5%
      Potatoes $5.41$4.939.6%
      Pizza $12.32$12.092.0%
      Beer $10.54$10.411.2%

      Health Care

      Item Opelika National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $77.08$125.6838.7%
      Doctor $100.56$135.7825.9%
      Dentist $118.89$113.294.9%
      Ibuprofen $10.18$10.654.4%
      Lipitor $501.36$468.607.0%

      Housing

      Item Opelika National avg. Difference
      Home Price $153,400.00$184,700.0016.9%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,756.90$2,346.6925.1%
      Apartment Rent $754.00$949.0020.5%

      Transportation

      Item Opelika National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.12$3.469.7%
      Tire Balancing $56.77$59.925.3%

      Utilities

      Item Opelika National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $227.80$193.9917.4%
      Phone $189.16$192.251.6%
      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.
      Lanett, AL6,2208415.7%
      Huguley, AL2,8198613.6%
      Valley, AL9,1958713.2%
      Cusseta, AL989010.2%
      West Point, GA3,871928.0%
      Opelika, AL30,589936.8%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Fleming Island, FL30,58211211.8%
      Eldersburg, MD30,55012929.0%
      Nicholasville, KY30,549945.8%
      Bel Air North, MD30,63912827.7%
      Gurnee, IL30,51911515.2%
      Opelika, AL30,589936.8%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.