CostIndexUSA

Huntsville, AL vs Lawrence, KS Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

AL
Huntsville
93.1
overall index
$1,400/mo rent
More AffordableKS
Lawrence
90.2
overall index
$1,475/mo rent

Lawrence is slightly cheaper than Huntsville — 3.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Huntsville, you would need $77,500 in Lawrence. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing8.1%
Huntsville
77.9
Lawrence
71.6
🛒 Groceries2.5%
Huntsville
96.4
Lawrence
94
🚗 Transportation3.0%
Huntsville
101.5
Lawrence
98.5
🏥 Healthcare3.0%
Huntsville
91.9
Lawrence
89.1
Utilities+6.4%
Huntsville
83.9
Lawrence
89.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lawrence, KS
$77,500
$2,500 less needed in Lawrence

Formula: salary × (90.2 ÷ 93.1) = salary × 0.9689. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Huntsville, AL

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

Lawrence, KS

Median Home Price
$320,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
71.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.1×

Huntsville has 8.1% lower housing costs compared to Lawrence.

Income & Job Market

Huntsville, AL

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

Lawrence, KS

Median Household Income
$67,000
Per Capita Income
$38,200
Unemployment Rate
5.2%
Population
98,004
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyRetailManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

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

Huntsville, AL
5.1×income-to-rent ratio

80% of income left after rent (median)

Lawrence, KS
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.