Gadsden, 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 1.8% more expensive than Gadsden, AL (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Gadsden works out to about $76,400 in Decatur, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 8.1% 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 $1,072 in Gadsden, nearly the same (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $227,000 in Decatur and $185,000 in Gadsden.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (2.1%).
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: 8.1% higher in Decatur than in Gadsden
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Gadsden, AL
- Decatur, AL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Gadsden, AL | Decatur, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 85.7 | 87.2 |
| Goods | 96.4 | 96.4 |
| Housing (rents) | 53.7 | 58.1 |
| Utilities | 86.7 | 84.7 |
| Other services | 96.7 | 96.7 |
| Category | Gadsden | Decatur | Decatur vs Gadsden |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 85.7 | 87.2 | +1.8% |
| Goods | 96.4 | 96.4 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 53.7 | 58.1 | +8.1% |
| Utilities | 86.7 | 84.7 | −2.3% |
| Other services | 96.7 | 96.7 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,072 | $1,082 | +0.9% |
| Typical home value | $185,000 | $227,000 | +22.3% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Gadsden | $75,000 | $76,400 | +1.8% |
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 Gadsden and Decatur has narrowed since 2008: 3.3 points then, 1.6 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Gadsden, AL
- Decatur, AL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Gadsden, AL | Decatur, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 86.5 | 89.8 |
| 2009 | 88.4 | 85.2 |
| 2010 | 87.7 | 88.8 |
| 2011 | 88.8 | 90.6 |
| 2012 | 87.6 | 88.2 |
| 2013 | 88.6 | 90.7 |
| 2014 | 89.3 | 87.3 |
| 2015 | 88.2 | 90.2 |
| 2016 | 88.8 | 89.2 |
| 2017 | 87.3 | 89.0 |
| 2018 | 86.0 | 87.2 |
| 2019 | 86.2 | 84.4 |
| 2020 | 85.2 | 87.2 |
| 2021 | 84.4 | 86.2 |
| 2022 | 82.3 | 87.4 |
| 2023 | 85.9 | 89.2 |
| 2024 | 85.7 | 87.2 |
Goods
- Gadsden, AL
- Decatur, AL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Gadsden, 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)
- Gadsden, AL
- Decatur, AL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Gadsden, AL | Decatur, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 44.6 | 58.1 |
| 2009 | 56.7 | 49.1 |
| 2010 | 52.0 | 54.9 |
| 2011 | 53.2 | 56.3 |
| 2012 | 47.4 | 48.2 |
| 2013 | 52.4 | 59.1 |
| 2014 | 52.9 | 50.7 |
| 2015 | 51.9 | 57.9 |
| 2016 | 49.9 | 50.0 |
| 2017 | 48.2 | 51.8 |
| 2018 | 53.3 | 58.8 |
| 2019 | 51.2 | 45.3 |
| 2020 | 51.3 | 52.3 |
| 2021 | 50.9 | 49.7 |
| 2022 | 42.7 | 55.4 |
| 2023 | 49.3 | 58.5 |
| 2024 | 53.7 | 58.1 |
Utilities
- Gadsden, AL
- Decatur, AL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Gadsden, AL | Decatur, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.1 | 92.2 |
| 2009 | 95.9 | 92.2 |
| 2010 | 96.7 | 93.8 |
| 2011 | 96.0 | 94.0 |
| 2012 | 96.3 | 94.5 |
| 2013 | 96.7 | 92.2 |
| 2014 | 95.9 | 93.3 |
| 2015 | 95.5 | 92.8 |
| 2016 | 94.6 | 94.0 |
| 2017 | 93.5 | 92.1 |
| 2018 | 89.1 | 88.0 |
| 2019 | 88.1 | 87.5 |
| 2020 | 85.3 | 85.6 |
| 2021 | 87.5 | 86.8 |
| 2022 | 89.9 | 88.4 |
| 2023 | 91.4 | 89.8 |
| 2024 | 86.7 | 84.7 |
Other services
- Gadsden, AL
- Decatur, AL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Gadsden, 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 $1,072 in Gadsden
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Gadsden, 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
| Gadsden, 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 | – | – | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | – | – | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | – | – | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | – | – | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | – | – | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | – | $849 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | – | $896 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | – | $906 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | – | $919 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | – | $949 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | – | $965 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | – | $987 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | – | $995 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | – | $1,001 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | – | $1,027 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $994 | $1,027 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $992 | $1,012 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,014 | $1,035 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,032 | $1,069 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,017 | $1,056 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,058 | $1,043 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,048 | $1,063 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,056 | $1,097 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,072 | $1,082 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $227,000 in Decatur vs $185,000 in Gadsden
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Gadsden, 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
| Gadsden, AL | Decatur, AL | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $97K | $124K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $98K | $127K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $98K | $128K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $97K | $129K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $98K | $130K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $100K | $130K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $101K | $131K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $102K | $133K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $103K | $135K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $104K | $136K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $106K | $136K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $108K | $138K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $109K | $141K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $109K | $141K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $110K | $142K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $109K | $144K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $114K | $149K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $117K | $152K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $120K | $154K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $123K | $157K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $125K | $161K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $130K | $165K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $132K | $168K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $135K | $174K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $138K | $181K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $144K | $189K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $151K | $197K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $157K | $203K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $161K | $207K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $164K | $213K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $165K | $214K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $162K | $211K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $160K | $211K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $161K | $216K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $161K | $218K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $163K | $218K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $164K | $218K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $169K | $223K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $172K | $224K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $173K | $225K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $175K | $226K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $173K | $226K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $175K | $225K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $179K | $227K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $181K | $228K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $182K | $228K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $185K | $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.