Cost of living comparison
Alabama is 19.1% cheaper than California.
If you lived in Alabama instead of California, you would:
pay 12.5% less for restaurants
California
|
Alabama
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$19.70
|
$16.44
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.02
|
$8.87
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.59
|
$2.09
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.01
|
$1.96
|
|
pay 11.5% less for groceries
California
|
Alabama
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.79
|
$2.95
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.34
|
$5.25
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.47
|
$3.66
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$4.63
|
$3.75
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$6.05
|
$5.04
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$2.14
|
$2.42
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.86
|
$0.66
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.77
|
$2.02
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.23
|
$1.68
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.42
|
$1.26
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$1.24
|
$1.23
|
|
pay 10.7% less for transportation
California
|
Alabama
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.89
|
$3.17
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$68.08
|
$70.00
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$25,571.45
|
$24,359.72
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$17.49
|
$16.48
|
|
pay 33.6% less for housing
California
|
Alabama
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$70.94
|
$62.65
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$2,161.66
|
$980.09
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,891.75
|
$719.33
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$151.84
|
$142.47
|
|
pay 34.3% less for childcare
California
|
Alabama
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,413.75
|
$886.04
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$18,865.17
|
$12,933.33
|
|
pay 23.4% less for entertainment and sports
California
|
Alabama
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$6.51
|
$4.55
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$4.78
|
$4.63
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$9.86
|
$6.93
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$52.94
|
$32.01
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$13.37
|
$11.42
|
|
pay 7.6% less for clothing
California
|
Alabama
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$49.43
|
$40.87
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$38.84
|
$32.78
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$81.58
|
$83.92
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$113.48
|
$113.04
|
|
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