CostIndexUSA

Abilene, TX vs Mobile, AL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TX
Abilene
90.4
overall index
$1,775/mo rent
More AffordableAL
Mobile
88.1
overall index
$1,250/mo rent

Mobile is slightly cheaper than Abilene — 2.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Abilene, you would need $78,000 in Mobile. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing18.6%
Abilene
73.8
Mobile
60.1
🛒 Groceries+2.8%
Abilene
93.8
Mobile
96.4
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Abilene
101.1
Mobile
101.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Abilene
91.4
Mobile
91.9
Utilities+3.7%
Abilene
81.2
Mobile
84.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Abilene to see what you'd need to earn in Mobile to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Mobile, AL
$78,000
$2,000 less needed in Mobile

Formula: salary × (88.1 ÷ 90.4) = salary × 0.9746. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Abilene, TX

Median Home Price
$200,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,775
Housing Index
73.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
9.4×

Mobile, AL

Median Home Price
$187,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,250
Housing Index
60.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.5×

Abilene has 18.6% lower housing costs compared to Mobile.

Income & Job Market

Abilene, TX

Median Household Income
$61,300
Per Capita Income
$34,900
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
124,451
Top Industries
HealthcareMilitaryEducationRetailManufacturing

Mobile, AL

Median Household Income
$55,400
Per Capita Income
$31,600
Unemployment Rate
3.1%
Population
187,041
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingLogisticsMilitaryAerospace

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Abilene, TX
2.9×income-to-rent ratio

65% of income left after rent (median)

Mobile, AL
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.