CostIndexUSA

Tuscaloosa, AL vs Wichita Falls, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableAL
Tuscaloosa
87.7
overall index
$1,525/mo rent
TX
Wichita Falls
89.5
overall index
$1,200/mo rent

Tuscaloosa is slightly cheaper than Wichita Falls — 2.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Tuscaloosa, you would need $81,600 in Wichita Falls. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+17.2%
Tuscaloosa
58.2
Wichita Falls
68.2
🛒 Groceries2.7%
Tuscaloosa
96.4
Wichita Falls
93.8
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Tuscaloosa
101.5
Wichita Falls
101.1
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Tuscaloosa
91.9
Wichita Falls
91.4
Utilities≈ Equal
Tuscaloosa
84.4
Wichita Falls
84.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Wichita Falls, TX
$81,600
$1,600 more needed in Wichita Falls

Formula: salary × (89.5 ÷ 87.7) = salary × 1.0205. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Tuscaloosa, AL

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

Wichita Falls, TX

Median Home Price
$167,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,200
Housing Index
68.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.6×

Wichita Falls has 17.2% higher housing costs compared to Tuscaloosa.

Income & Job Market

Tuscaloosa, AL

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

Wichita Falls, TX

Median Household Income
$63,500
Per Capita Income
$36,200
Unemployment Rate
2.7%
Population
104,553
Top Industries
MilitaryHealthcareManufacturingRetailGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

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

Tuscaloosa, AL
3.2×income-to-rent ratio

69% of income left after rent (median)

Wichita Falls, TX
4.4×income-to-rent ratio

77% 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.