CostIndexUSA

Mobile, AL vs South Bend, IN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableAL
Mobile
88.1
overall index
$1,250/mo rent
IN
South Bend
92.9
overall index
$1,375/mo rent

Mobile is moderately cheaper than South Bend — 5.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Mobile, you would need $84,400 in South Bend. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+24.1%
Mobile
60.1
South Bend
74.6
🛒 Groceries2.3%
Mobile
96.4
South Bend
94.2
🚗 Transportation+2.7%
Mobile
101.5
South Bend
104.2
🏥 Healthcare+2.6%
Mobile
91.9
South Bend
94.3
Utilities+4.2%
Mobile
84.2
South Bend
87.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in South Bend, IN
$84,400
$4,400 more needed in South Bend

Formula: salary × (92.9 ÷ 88.1) = salary × 1.0545. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Mobile, AL

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

South Bend, IN

Median Home Price
$221,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,375
Housing Index
74.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.4×

South Bend has 24.1% higher housing costs compared to Mobile.

Income & Job Market

Mobile, AL

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

South Bend, IN

Median Household Income
$65,800
Per Capita Income
$37,500
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Population
103,453
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingFinanceRetail

Affordability at a Glance

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

Mobile, AL
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

South Bend, IN
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% 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.