Moving to Alabama? 2024 Living Costs & Relocation Tips

Alabama is a state situated in the southeastern portion of the United States and is bordered by Tennessee, Georgia, Florida and Mississippi. Best known for its rich history, diverse geography and vibrant culture, Alabama offers visitors and residents a unique blend of Southern hospitality and modern amenities.

If you are considering moving to Alabama, the various costs listed below will help you make an informed decision on what costs are involved.

Quick Alabama Facts:

1. Population: 5.04 million (2021)
2. Official Language: English
3. GDP Per Capita: $55,223 (2022)
4. Random Fact: Windshield wipers were invented in Alabama
5. Currency: US Dollar (US$). As of early 2023, £1 = $1.20, €1 = $1.07, $1 CAD = $0.74, $1 AUD = $0.68 

1. Moving and Shipping Costs to Alabama

Below are some sample moving costs to Alabama from other US states. For a more accurate quote please use the form above.

From State	Estimated Cost
California	$4,000 – $6,500
Texas	$2,800 – $4,200
Florida	$3,000 – $5,000
New York	$4,200 – $6,800
Pennsylvania	$3,500 – $5,500
Illinois	$3,200 – $5,200
Ohio	$2,700 – $4,500
Georgia	$2,500 – $4,000
North Carolina	$2,800 – $4,300
Michigan	$3,000 – $4,800

Also see: International Moving Companies in Alabama

2. Alabama Housing Costs

Alabama is reasonably priced, with a small difference in price between the city centre and the state’s outskirts.

Monthly Rental Prices in Alabama:

• 1 bedroom flat (apartment) in City Centre: $975+
• 1 bedroom flat outside the City Centre: $610+
• 3 bedroom flat in City Centre: $1,500+
• 3 bedroom flat outside the City Centre: $1,250+ 

Alabama Home Purchase Prices:

• Price per square metre (10.7 square feet) to buy in City Centre: $2,280+
• Price per square metre (10.7 square feet) to buy outside City: $1,345+

Alabama Housing Cost Comparison:

This is how rents in Alabama compare with other cities around the globe.

• London is 65.2% more expensive
• New York is 76% more expensive
• Los Angeles is 66.9% more expensive
• Toronto is 51.7% more expensive
• Sydney is 57.7% more expensive
• Paris is 45% more expensive
• Dubai is 50.8% more expensive

Source: Numbeo

How to Save on Housing Costs:

• Share a Flat or House: Sharing a house or a flat is a way to save on living expenses. You may have to share a bathroom but you will save at the end of the day. A cheaper option is to share a room. Have a look at the following site to find your perfect room or flatmate: Spare Room, iRoommates
• Different Areas – Different Prices: The range of rental and house purchase prices in Alabama varies greatly depending on the location, with prices generally being lower in more rural areas compared to urban centres. In cities like Birmingham, for example, the cost of living is higher and housing prices tend to be more expensive in areas closer to downtown or in more affluent neighbourhoods, while prices tend to be lower in the suburbs or further away from the city centre.
  

3. Alabama Food, Grocery and Restaurant Costs

In recent years, Alabama has seen a rise in the popularity of farm-to-table restaurants and craft breweries, with many establishments using locally-sourced ingredients and highlighting the state’s agriculture. Some famous foods to be aware of in Alabama include barbecue (especially pulled pork), fried chicken, biscuits with gravy, and sweet tea. 

• Inexpensive Restaurant: $40
•  Takeout Coffee: $5.25
•  Bottle of Coke: $2.25
•  1L of Milk: $1.00
•  Loaf of Bread: $1.80
•  12 Eggs: $4.75
•  1kg Chicken: $7.20
•  1kg Beef: $11.90
•  1kg Apples: $3.10
•  1kg White Rice: $2.80

This is how restaurants and food prices compare with other major cities in the world.

• London restaurants are 17.2% cheaper and groceries are 10.8% more expensive than Alabama.
• New York restaurants are 0.2% cheaper and groceries are 48.3% more expensive than Alabama.
• Los Angeles restaurants are 6.9% cheaper and groceries are 34.2% more expensive than Alabama.
• Toronto restaurants are 31.9% cheaper and groceries are 25.7% more expensive than Alabama.
• Sydney restaurants are 34.6% cheaper and groceries are 34.3% more expensive than Alabama.
• Paris restaurants are 40.8% cheaper and groceries are 33.4% more expensive than Alabama.
• Dubai restaurants are 40.2% cheaper and groceries are 4.9% cheaper than Alabama.

Source: Numbeo

Bonus Tips for Cheaper Food, Restaurants and Groceries:

• Know Your Supermarkets: Farmers’ markets are popular in Alabama, with a variety of options available across the state, offering fresh produce and artisanal products. There is also a range of supermarkets available, from budget-friendly options to high-end speciality stores.
• Find Cheap Eats: Alabama has a good selection of restaurants which offer food at affordable prices. Trip Advisor, AL.com

4. Alabama Alcohol Costs

Alabama, like all cities in the United States, has plenty of bars and clubs to choose from, whether you want a quick beer after work or a cocktail before dinner.

• Pint (0.6L) domestic beer at a restaurant/pub: $4.25
• Bottle of imported beer at a restaurant/pub: $4.50
• Pint (0.6L) domestic beer at a supermarket: $1.90
• Bottle of imported beer at a supermarket: $1.50
• Mid-range bottle of wine at a supermarket: $13.40

How To Drink For Less in Alabama:

• Keep an eye on the local papers and websites for specials over weekends and public holidays.
• Take a look at Gulf Shores and Yelp.

5. Alabama Transportation Fares

The primary mode of public transportation in Alabama is the bus, with the largest public transit system being the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority. Other cities in the state have local bus systems, but rural areas generally do not have any public transportation options.

Here are some sample ticket costs:

• Adult single – $4.00
• One-day ticket – $5.00
• Monthly season ticket, unlimited – $70.00

How To Save Money on Public Transport:

• Buy a bike. Depending on where you live and work, cycling around the city is certainly a viable option.
• Walk. If you live relatively close to where you work, you can walk to work.

6. Cost of Internet in Alabama

Internet prices in the States are expensive compared with many other countries in the world. Here are some sample broadband internet prices from early 2023 for unlimited downloads, based on a 12-month contract:

• Sprint: $50 a month (Unlimited high speed except for streaming gaming up to 8mb)
• AT & T: $20 a month (50mb fibre)
• Verizon: $80 a month 

7. Cost of Clothing, Personal Items, Gym and Leisure

Here are some clothing prices, together with other useful prices.

• Pair of Jeans: $55,00
• Summer Dress: $30.00
• Running Shoes (Trainers): $70.00
• Business Shoes: $140.00
• Short Doctor’s Visit (15 mins): $100.00
• Deodorant: $4.40
• Shampoo: $4.90
• Toilet Paper (4 rolls): $4.00
• Gym Membership: $16.60
• Movie (cinema) Ticket: $10.25

Source: Numbeo, Expatisan

8. Cost of Owning a Car and Driving a Car in Alabama

Everyone in the US drives on the right. Many people use their cars for work in Alabama. The rush hour is nowhere near as long as bad as other cities around the world. If you’re moving to Alabama from within the US, you’ll be able to keep your license but need to update your address to your new one.

You can drive on a foreign license for up to 12 months as a tourist but after that, you will need to get an American license. If you are working or studying in the US, you can drive on your foreign license for 30 days. If you want to exchange your foreign driver’s license you have to follow the process here. 

Here are some other sample costs of owning and operating a car in Alabama:

• Volkswagen Golf: $24,000+
• 1 litre (¼ gallon) of Gas (petrol): $0.78
  

Source: Numbeo, Expatisan

Ways To Save Money on Driving in Alabama:

• Car sharing or pooling is one way to save money. Try Carpoolworld and Share Your Ride
• Taxis can sometimes be a cheaper option, especially if you are going to have to park all day. Try Uber or Lyft.

 9. Taxes in Alabama

No matter where you live in the State, you will pay federal tax. To learn more about the different taxes in the States go to Immihelp and USA taxes.

In Alabama, the state sales tax rate is 4%. However, there are also local sales taxes that are collected in addition to the state rate. The local sales tax rate varies depending on the county and city in which the purchase is made, with rates ranging from 0% to 7%.

Whether you own or rent your home, you will be subject to property tax based on the area in which you live and the size of the property you live in. Learn more about property tax in Fresno at Property Tax.

Finally, if you decide to buy a flat or house in Alabama you’ll have to pay real estate transfer tax.  

10. Flight Costs from Alabama

If you do make the move to Alabama, here’s approximately how much it will cost to fly to other major world cities based on the lowest, one-way fares from Skyscanner as of early 2023:

• London: $550
• New York: $200
• Los Angeles: $200
• Toronto: $250
• Vancouver: $320
• Dubai: $1,100
• Sydney: $1,600
• Melbourne: $1,100
• Cape Town: $960
• Hong Kong: $1,150

Other Tips on Moving to Alabama:

The costs and pricing above should give you a good idea of the cost of living in Alabama but perhaps the following extra tips will make your move go smoothly.

11. Moving to Alabama Alone

Moving anywhere can be a lonely experience, but moving to a new city can be especially daunting. Here are a few tips about settling in Alabama.

• Meetups: There are many Meetup groups to choose from. You will definitely find something to join which will help you to settle in.
• Attend Local Events: Alabama always has something going on. Have a look at Trip Advisor, Eventbrite.

12. Moving to Alabama with a Family

Alabama is a friendly place to bring up a young family. The city has lots of parks, green spaces and plenty of sunshine.

• New Parents (or parents to be): There are free and paid antenatal classes and courses. Have a look at Alabama Medicaid.
• Live in a Family-friendly Area: Alabama is incredibly family-friendly with lots of outdoor spaces to play in, as well as plenty of museums, parks and other attractions to keep little ones occupied
• Find Things To Do With The Kids: There are many activities for families living in Alabama. Have a look at the following sites to be inspired – Trip Advisor, VacationIdea.

13. Moving to Alabama for Work

While it is possible to move to Alabama without a job, it makes sense to ensure there are jobs in your field before you make the move. Alabama as a state is invested in aerospace, education, health care and banking industries. The current unemployment rate in Alabama is 2.5%.

Here are a few things to consider when moving for work:

• Salary: Salaries vary enormously depending on which industry you are in. The costs we outlined above should give you a rough idea of how much more you’ll want to make to make the move worthwhile. You can also check salary ranges on sites such as Glassdoor and Payscale.
• How To Find Work: If you want to have a job lined up before you move to Fresno, but aren’t sure where to begin, the following sites are good places to start: Monster, Indeed and Craigslist. You may also want to Google recruiters in your industry, as they can often help land you some initial interviews as well.

14. Moving to Alabama from Australia

There’s a small group of Australians living and working in Alabama, if you are thinking of joining them, here are a few things to consider.

• Size Comparison: Tasmania, an island state located off the southeast coast of mainland Australia, is about 1.6 times larger than Alabama’s land area.
• Join Expat Groups: Take a look at this Facebook page for a good start to find other Australians in Alabama.

15. Moving to Alabama from Canada

There’s a small group of Canadians living in Alabama. If you’re considering making the move from Canada here are a few things to consider.

• Size: New Brunswick, a province in eastern Canada, is about 1.7 times larger than Alabama’s land area.
• Expat Groups: Meeting up with fellow Canadians helps the moving process.  Start a Canadian Meetup group.

16.  Moving to Alabama from the United Kingdom

There’s a small number of Brits living in Alabama. If you are thinking of making the move from the UK to join them, then here are a few things to consider.

• Size: West Yorkshire, a metropolitan county in northern England, is about 1.5% larger than Alabama’s land area.
• Expat Groups: If you want to join up with fellow Brits in Alabama, then start your own British Meetup group.

Hopefully, the tips and costs above are helpful. If want to get started pricing out how much it will cost you to move to Alabama you can start by comparing moving quotes here.