CostIndexUSA

Garden Grove, CA vs Mobile, AL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Garden Grove
113.6
overall index
$2,550/mo rent
More AffordableAL
Mobile
88.1
overall index
$1,250/mo rent

Mobile is significantly cheaper than Garden Grove — 22.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Garden Grove, you would need $62,000 in Mobile. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing64.7%
Garden Grove
170.4
Mobile
60.1
🛒 Groceries9.6%
Garden Grove
106.6
Mobile
96.4
🚗 Transportation7.4%
Garden Grove
109.6
Mobile
101.5
🏥 Healthcare7.3%
Garden Grove
99.1
Mobile
91.9
Utilities46.9%
Garden Grove
158.6
Mobile
84.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Mobile, AL
$62,000
$18,000 less needed in Mobile

Formula: salary × (88.1 ÷ 113.6) = salary × 0.7755. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Garden Grove, CA

Median Home Price
$565,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,550
Housing Index
170.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.5×

Mobile, AL

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

Garden Grove has 64.7% lower housing costs compared to Mobile.

Income & Job Market

Garden Grove, CA

Median Household Income
$92,000
Per Capita Income
$52,400
Unemployment Rate
5.5%
Population
171,949
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingRetailTourismTechnology

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).

Garden Grove, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% 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.