CostIndexUSA

Cleveland, OH vs Tuscaloosa, AL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

OH
Cleveland
93.9
overall index
$1,400/mo rent
More AffordableAL
Tuscaloosa
87.7
overall index
$1,525/mo rent

Tuscaloosa is moderately cheaper than Cleveland — 6.6% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Cleveland, you would need $74,700 in Tuscaloosa. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing26.7%
Cleveland
79.4
Tuscaloosa
58.2
🛒 Groceries+3.0%
Cleveland
93.6
Tuscaloosa
96.4
🚗 Transportation2.3%
Cleveland
103.9
Tuscaloosa
101.5
🏥 Healthcare2.2%
Cleveland
94
Tuscaloosa
91.9
Utilities12.1%
Cleveland
96
Tuscaloosa
84.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Tuscaloosa, AL
$74,700
$5,300 less needed in Tuscaloosa

Formula: salary × (87.7 ÷ 93.9) = salary × 0.9340. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Cleveland, OH

Median Home Price
$236,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
79.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.0×

Tuscaloosa, AL

Median Home Price
$213,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,525
Housing Index
58.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.6×

Cleveland has 26.7% lower housing costs compared to Tuscaloosa.

Income & Job Market

Cleveland, OH

Median Household Income
$67,600
Per Capita Income
$38,500
Unemployment Rate
4.8%
Population
372,624
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingFinanceTechnologyEducation

Tuscaloosa, AL

Median Household Income
$58,200
Per Capita Income
$33,200
Unemployment Rate
5.9%
Population
99,543
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareManufacturingAutomotiveGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

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

Cleveland, OH
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Tuscaloosa, AL
3.2×income-to-rent ratio

69% 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.