Florence, AL vs Decatur, AL: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Decatur, AL is 2.8% more expensive than Florence, AL (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Florence works out to about $77,100 in Decatur, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 21.8% more in Decatur. Goods are 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,082 a month in Decatur and $1,073 in Florence, nearly the same (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $227,000 in Decatur and $215,000 in Florence.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (3.0%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 21.8% higher in Decatur than in Florence
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Florence, AL
- Decatur, AL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Florence, AL | Decatur, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 84.8 | 87.2 |
| Goods | 96.4 | 96.4 |
| Housing (rents) | 47.7 | 58.1 |
| Utilities | 85.8 | 84.7 |
| Other services | 96.7 | 96.7 |
| Category | Florence | Decatur | Decatur vs Florence |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 84.8 | 87.2 | +2.8% |
| Goods | 96.4 | 96.4 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 47.7 | 58.1 | +21.8% |
| Utilities | 85.8 | 84.7 | −1.2% |
| Other services | 96.7 | 96.7 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,073 | $1,082 | +0.8% |
| Typical home value | $215,000 | $227,000 | +5.3% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Florence | $75,000 | $77,100 | +2.8% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Florence and Decatur has narrowed since 2008: 6.5 points then, 2.4 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Florence, AL
- Decatur, AL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Florence, AL | Decatur, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 83.3 | 89.8 |
| 2009 | 84.2 | 85.2 |
| 2010 | 87.9 | 88.8 |
| 2011 | 86.0 | 90.6 |
| 2012 | 88.6 | 88.2 |
| 2013 | 85.3 | 90.7 |
| 2014 | 87.1 | 87.3 |
| 2015 | 86.3 | 90.2 |
| 2016 | 85.9 | 89.2 |
| 2017 | 86.7 | 89.0 |
| 2018 | 84.0 | 87.2 |
| 2019 | 81.9 | 84.4 |
| 2020 | 82.8 | 87.2 |
| 2021 | 85.4 | 86.2 |
| 2022 | 84.5 | 87.4 |
| 2023 | 84.5 | 89.2 |
| 2024 | 84.8 | 87.2 |
Goods
- Florence, AL
- Decatur, AL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Florence, AL | Decatur, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 96.7 | 96.7 |
| 2009 | 94.8 | 94.8 |
| 2010 | 96.5 | 96.5 |
| 2011 | 96.5 | 96.5 |
| 2012 | 96.7 | 96.7 |
| 2013 | 97.2 | 97.2 |
| 2014 | 97.8 | 97.8 |
| 2015 | 96.5 | 96.5 |
| 2016 | 97.2 | 97.2 |
| 2017 | 97.1 | 97.1 |
| 2018 | 92.5 | 92.5 |
| 2019 | 94.6 | 94.6 |
| 2020 | 94.3 | 94.3 |
| 2021 | 93.9 | 93.9 |
| 2022 | 94.7 | 94.7 |
| 2023 | 94.6 | 94.6 |
| 2024 | 96.4 | 96.4 |
Housing (rents)
- Florence, AL
- Decatur, AL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Florence, AL | Decatur, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 44.6 | 58.1 |
| 2009 | 45.9 | 49.1 |
| 2010 | 53.7 | 54.9 |
| 2011 | 47.0 | 56.3 |
| 2012 | 53.6 | 48.2 |
| 2013 | 46.9 | 59.1 |
| 2014 | 47.1 | 50.7 |
| 2015 | 44.9 | 57.9 |
| 2016 | 44.1 | 50.0 |
| 2017 | 46.4 | 51.8 |
| 2018 | 45.9 | 58.8 |
| 2019 | 40.4 | 45.3 |
| 2020 | 45.6 | 52.3 |
| 2021 | 49.8 | 49.7 |
| 2022 | 45.8 | 55.4 |
| 2023 | 42.0 | 58.5 |
| 2024 | 47.7 | 58.1 |
Utilities
- Florence, AL
- Decatur, AL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Florence, AL | Decatur, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 92.7 | 92.2 |
| 2009 | 93.3 | 92.2 |
| 2010 | 94.2 | 93.8 |
| 2011 | 94.5 | 94.0 |
| 2012 | 94.7 | 94.5 |
| 2013 | 93.2 | 92.2 |
| 2014 | 93.5 | 93.3 |
| 2015 | 93.4 | 92.8 |
| 2016 | 93.8 | 94.0 |
| 2017 | 92.2 | 92.1 |
| 2018 | 88.8 | 88.0 |
| 2019 | 87.0 | 87.5 |
| 2020 | 86.1 | 85.6 |
| 2021 | 88.2 | 86.8 |
| 2022 | 88.6 | 88.4 |
| 2023 | 90.1 | 89.8 |
| 2024 | 85.8 | 84.7 |
Other services
- Florence, AL
- Decatur, AL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Florence, AL | Decatur, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.6 | 98.6 |
| 2009 | 98.2 | 98.2 |
| 2010 | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| 2011 | 101.5 | 101.5 |
| 2012 | 101.8 | 101.8 |
| 2013 | 100.6 | 100.6 |
| 2014 | 100.4 | 100.4 |
| 2015 | 101.0 | 101.0 |
| 2016 | 102.2 | 102.2 |
| 2017 | 100.8 | 100.8 |
| 2018 | 95.9 | 95.9 |
| 2019 | 96.9 | 96.9 |
| 2020 | 96.5 | 96.5 |
| 2021 | 96.1 | 96.1 |
| 2022 | 97.1 | 97.1 |
| 2023 | 98.2 | 98.2 |
| 2024 | 96.7 | 96.7 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,082 in Decatur vs $1,073 in Florence
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Florence, AL
- Decatur, AL
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Florence, AL | Decatur, AL | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | – | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | – | – | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | – | – | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | – | – | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | – | – | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | – | – | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | – | – | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | – | – | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | – | – | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | – | – | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | – | – | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | – | – | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | – | – | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | – | – | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | – | – | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | – | – | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | – | – | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | – | – | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | – | – | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | – | – | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | – | – | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | – | – | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $704 | – | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $737 | – | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $774 | – | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $790 | – | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $835 | – | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $839 | $849 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $888 | $896 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $900 | $906 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $906 | $919 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $931 | $949 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $971 | $965 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $971 | $987 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $968 | $995 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $985 | $1,001 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,009 | $1,027 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,028 | $1,027 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,057 | $1,012 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,033 | $1,035 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,050 | $1,069 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,049 | $1,056 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,058 | $1,043 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,078 | $1,063 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,093 | $1,097 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,073 | $1,082 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $227,000 in Decatur vs $215,000 in Florence
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Florence, AL
- Decatur, AL
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Florence, AL | Decatur, AL | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $121K | $124K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $121K | $127K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $123K | $128K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $126K | $129K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $127K | $130K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $127K | $130K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $127K | $131K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $129K | $133K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $131K | $135K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $130K | $136K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $130K | $136K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $132K | $138K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $133K | $141K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $133K | $141K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $134K | $142K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $133K | $144K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $136K | $149K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $138K | $152K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $138K | $154K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $140K | $157K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $143K | $161K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $145K | $165K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $149K | $168K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $155K | $174K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $161K | $181K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $168K | $189K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $173K | $197K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $179K | $203K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $185K | $207K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $192K | $213K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $194K | $214K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $194K | $211K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $194K | $211K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $199K | $216K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $200K | $218K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $202K | $218K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $204K | $218K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $209K | $223K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $210K | $224K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $209K | $225K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $211K | $226K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $210K | $226K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $209K | $225K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $209K | $227K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $213K | $228K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $214K | $228K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $215K | $227K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.