Mobile, AL vs Gadsden, AL: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Gadsden, AL is 2.8% less expensive than Mobile, AL (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Mobile works out to about $72,900 in Gadsden, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is everyday costs rather than housing: goods are 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher in Gadsden, while housing is 10.7% lower.
- Typical asking rent is $1,072 a month in Gadsden and $1,280 in Mobile, $2,496 a year less in Gadsden (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $185,000 in Gadsden and $195,000 in Mobile.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (2.5%).
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.
Everyday costs, not housing, drive the gap between Mobile and Gadsden
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Mobile, AL
- Gadsden, AL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Mobile, AL | Gadsden, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 88.1 | 85.7 |
| Goods | 96.4 | 96.4 |
| Housing (rents) | 60.1 | 53.7 |
| Utilities | 84.2 | 86.7 |
| Other services | 96.7 | 96.7 |
| Category | Mobile | Gadsden | Gadsden vs Mobile |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 88.1 | 85.7 | −2.8% |
| Goods | 96.4 | 96.4 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 60.1 | 53.7 | −10.7% |
| Utilities | 84.2 | 86.7 | +3.0% |
| Other services | 96.7 | 96.7 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,280 | $1,072 | −16.2% |
| Typical home value | $195,000 | $185,000 | −4.8% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Mobile | $75,000 | $72,900 | −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 Mobile and Gadsden has narrowed since 2008: 4.0 points then, 2.4 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Mobile, AL
- Gadsden, AL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Mobile, AL | Gadsden, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 90.5 | 86.5 |
| 2009 | 89.8 | 88.4 |
| 2010 | 90.3 | 87.7 |
| 2011 | 92.0 | 88.8 |
| 2012 | 93.0 | 87.6 |
| 2013 | 92.3 | 88.6 |
| 2014 | 93.7 | 89.3 |
| 2015 | 91.5 | 88.2 |
| 2016 | 92.3 | 88.8 |
| 2017 | 92.2 | 87.3 |
| 2018 | 87.8 | 86.0 |
| 2019 | 88.4 | 86.2 |
| 2020 | 87.5 | 85.2 |
| 2021 | 87.9 | 84.4 |
| 2022 | 87.8 | 82.3 |
| 2023 | 88.7 | 85.9 |
| 2024 | 88.1 | 85.7 |
Goods
- Mobile, AL
- Gadsden, AL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Mobile, AL | Gadsden, 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)
- Mobile, AL
- Gadsden, AL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Mobile, AL | Gadsden, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 63.0 | 44.6 |
| 2009 | 65.0 | 56.7 |
| 2010 | 60.4 | 52.0 |
| 2011 | 66.0 | 53.2 |
| 2012 | 69.0 | 47.4 |
| 2013 | 68.8 | 52.4 |
| 2014 | 71.5 | 52.9 |
| 2015 | 65.2 | 51.9 |
| 2016 | 64.6 | 49.9 |
| 2017 | 65.4 | 48.2 |
| 2018 | 62.5 | 53.3 |
| 2019 | 62.0 | 51.2 |
| 2020 | 59.8 | 51.3 |
| 2021 | 62.3 | 50.9 |
| 2022 | 57.4 | 42.7 |
| 2023 | 61.3 | 49.3 |
| 2024 | 60.1 | 53.7 |
Utilities
- Mobile, AL
- Gadsden, AL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Mobile, AL | Gadsden, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 93.6 | 95.1 |
| 2009 | 93.3 | 95.9 |
| 2010 | 95.3 | 96.7 |
| 2011 | 94.8 | 96.0 |
| 2012 | 95.1 | 96.3 |
| 2013 | 93.9 | 96.7 |
| 2014 | 94.4 | 95.9 |
| 2015 | 93.9 | 95.5 |
| 2016 | 93.9 | 94.6 |
| 2017 | 92.7 | 93.5 |
| 2018 | 87.7 | 89.1 |
| 2019 | 87.1 | 88.1 |
| 2020 | 85.3 | 85.3 |
| 2021 | 86.7 | 87.5 |
| 2022 | 87.8 | 89.9 |
| 2023 | 89.6 | 91.4 |
| 2024 | 84.2 | 86.7 |
Other services
- Mobile, AL
- Gadsden, AL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Mobile, AL | Gadsden, 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: $1,072 in Gadsden vs $1,280 in Mobile
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Mobile, AL
- Gadsden, 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
| Mobile, AL | Gadsden, AL | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $699 | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $713 | – | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $717 | – | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $719 | – | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $724 | – | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $732 | – | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $739 | – | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $740 | – | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $751 | – | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $759 | – | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $759 | – | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $763 | – | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $774 | – | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $783 | – | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $778 | – | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $794 | – | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $800 | – | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $818 | – | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $820 | – | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $822 | – | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $824 | – | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $833 | – | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $849 | – | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $860 | – | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $880 | – | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $949 | – | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,001 | – | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $995 | – | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,009 | – | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,044 | – | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,087 | – | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,088 | – | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,108 | – | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,141 | – | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,172 | – | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,167 | – | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,181 | – | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,202 | – | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,205 | $994 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,198 | $992 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,219 | $1,014 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,239 | $1,032 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,239 | $1,017 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,250 | $1,058 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,262 | $1,048 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,277 | $1,056 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,280 | $1,072 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $185,000 in Gadsden vs $195,000 in Mobile
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Mobile, AL
- Gadsden, 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
| Mobile, AL | Gadsden, AL | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $108K | $97K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $109K | $98K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $110K | $98K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $111K | $97K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $113K | $98K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $114K | $100K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $115K | $101K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $117K | $102K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $118K | $103K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $119K | $104K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $120K | $106K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $121K | $108K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $123K | $109K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $124K | $109K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $126K | $110K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $127K | $109K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $129K | $114K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $131K | $117K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $134K | $120K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $137K | $123K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $140K | $125K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $142K | $130K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $146K | $132K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $150K | $135K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $153K | $138K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $159K | $144K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $166K | $151K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $171K | $157K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $176K | $161K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $181K | $164K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $183K | $165K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $184K | $162K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $185K | $160K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $189K | $161K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $190K | $161K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $190K | $163K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $192K | $164K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $196K | $169K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $196K | $172K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $196K | $173K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $197K | $175K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $195K | $173K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $194K | $175K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $193K | $179K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $194K | $181K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $195K | $182K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $195K | $185K | $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.