A-
4%
Overall NAT. AVG.
4%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
1%
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 Foley Alabama National
Cost of living9688100
Goods & Services9796100
Groceries9796100
Health care10687100
Housing9972100
Transportation9391100
Utilities89102100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Foley, AL

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Foley? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Foley stands at 96, making it 4% lower 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.

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

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

Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 6 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Foley and this is how they responded. 0% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 100% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.

Is Foley Affordable?

Is Foley 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 Foley, the median home price is 5.5% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 17.3% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Foley come in at $48,373, which is 12.6% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Foley?

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.

Housing: Elevated demand for housing within coveted locales has the propensity to escalate both property values and rental rates, thereby serving as a primary catalyst for an augmented cost of living. Conversely, areas witnessing diminished housing demand, particularly within less desirable environs, often experience an inversely proportional effect, leading to price reductions and subsequently contributing to a more modest cost of living. In Foley, the housing index is 1.3% lower than the national average.

Healthcare: Healthcare expenditures and insurance premium rates can vary significantly, contingent upon the particular city or state. Factors such as the accessibility of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs, and expenses related to specialized medical care can all have an impact on the overall cost of living. In Foley, healthcare costs are 6.3% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living data in Foley displayed above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, which serves as a practical tool for comparing living expenses across urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, this index aggregates data from over 300 independent researchers, encompassing more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. The weightings assigned to cost differences rely on government survey data that tracks the spending habits of professional and executive households. It's worth noting that the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, while AreaVibes integrates tax rates into the overall cost of living evaluation for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Foley is 9% higher than the Alabama average
  • The cost of living in Foley is 4% lower than the national average
  • Foley housing is 1% 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 Foley

See all the best places to live around Foley

Compare Foley, 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$57,416$4,785$1,340$1,723
      Renters$27,408$2,284$639$822
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Foley, AL, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for Foley homeowners, is $57,416. This would allow for a maximum of $1,340 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $27,408 which would result in a maximum of $639 to be spent on rental costs.

      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 Foley National avg. Difference
      Haircut $24.75$24.262.0%
      Beauty Salon $45.72$45.560.4%
      Toothpaste $3.59$3.703.0%
      Shampoo $1.17$1.288.4%
      Movie $10.62$12.1312.4%
      Bowling $17.33$18.003.7%

      Groceries

      Item Foley National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.76$5.841.4%
      Fried Chicken $1.74$1.5710.7%
      Milk $4.55$4.672.5%
      Potatoes $5.16$4.934.6%
      Pizza $11.24$12.097.0%
      Beer $9.16$10.4112.0%

      Health Care

      Item Foley National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $122.28$125.682.7%
      Doctor $128.94$135.785.0%
      Dentist $138.76$113.2922.5%
      Ibuprofen $10.07$10.655.4%
      Lipitor $491.22$468.604.8%

      Housing

      Item Foley National avg. Difference
      Home Price $194,900.00$184,700.005.5%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,663.88$2,346.6929.1%
      Apartment Rent $785.00$949.0017.3%

      Transportation

      Item Foley National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.08$3.4611.0%
      Tire Balancing $60.67$59.921.2%

      Utilities

      Item Foley National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $162.85$193.9916.1%
      Phone $187.62$192.252.4%
      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.
      Robertsdale, AL6,7768910.7%
      Elberta, AL1,9589010.5%
      Perdido Beach, AL440928.5%
      Bon Secour, AL2,010955.4%
      Lillian, AL2,120954.7%
      Foley, AL19,337963.5%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Brigham City, UT19,336990.9%
      Englewood, FL19,3321043.8%
      Middlesex Centre, ON19,332n/a 
      Louisville, CO19,34215757.2%
      Pinole, CA19,34316767.3%
      Foley, AL19,337963.5%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.