CostIndexUSA

Boulder, CO vs Huntsville, AL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CO
Boulder
105.2
overall index
$2,250/mo rent
More AffordableAL
Huntsville
93.1
overall index
$1,400/mo rent

Huntsville is moderately cheaper than Boulder — 11.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Boulder, you would need $70,800 in Huntsville. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing50.4%
Boulder
157
Huntsville
77.9
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Boulder
96.1
Huntsville
96.4
🚗 Transportation3.1%
Boulder
104.8
Huntsville
101.5
🏥 Healthcare3.1%
Boulder
94.8
Huntsville
91.9
Utilities+1.5%
Boulder
82.7
Huntsville
83.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Huntsville, AL
$70,800
$9,200 less needed in Huntsville

Formula: salary × (93.1 ÷ 105.2) = salary × 0.8850. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Boulder, CO

Median Home Price
$702,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,250
Housing Index
157
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.0×

Huntsville, AL

Median Home Price
$307,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
77.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.3×

Boulder has 50.4% lower housing costs compared to Huntsville.

Income & Job Market

Boulder, CO

Median Household Income
$95,400
Per Capita Income
$54,400
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Population
105,112
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationResearchHealthcareOutdoor Recreation

Huntsville, AL

Median Household Income
$84,900
Per Capita Income
$48,400
Unemployment Rate
2.8%
Population
215,006
Top Industries
AerospaceDefenseTechnologyHealthcareEducation

Affordability at a Glance

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

Boulder, CO
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

72% of income left after rent (median)

Huntsville, AL
5.1×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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.