Is Huntsville expensive to live in?

Huntsville is around the middle of the 158 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $900 per month ranks #105 of 158 and is 14% lower than the $1,043 median.

What is the average rent in Huntsville?

Average rent in Huntsville, AL runs a studio around $815, a one-bedroom around $900, a two-bedroom around $1,080, a three-bedroom around $1,251 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in Huntsville?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $900 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year. The median household income here is $70,778.

How much does it cost to live in Huntsville per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Huntsville is about $1,090 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Cost of Living in Huntsville, AL

Population 218,814 · Alabama

~$1,090/mo est.1BR $900Home $263,100

Photo: Megan Lee / Unsplash

Compare with:

The cost of living in Huntsville, AL is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $900 a month — 14% lower than the $1,043 median across the 158 large US cities we track. Studios average $815 and two-bedrooms $1,080.

Median household income here is $70,778, 5% higher than the $67,696 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $1,090 before food and transport. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $900

Studio

$815

1 Bedroom

$900

2 Bedroom

$1,080

3 Bedroom

$1,251

Buying a Home$263,100

Median Home Value

$263,100

Income$70,778

Median Household Income

$70,778

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,740

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesSouth

Milk (gal)

$4.00

Bread (lb)

$1.75

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

Average prices, South (BLS, 2026-07-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities16.4¢/kWh

Electricity

16.4¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$24.06/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-06-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$3.62/gal

Regular Gasoline (Gulf Coast (PADD 3))

$3.62/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-08-31.

State Taxes (AL)4% sales

State Sales Tax

State Income Tax (top rate)

Up to 5.00%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime483.2 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

483.2

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

2,395.7

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Huntsville Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 36.4 yrs

Median Age

36.4 yrs

Homeownership

58.1%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

46.2%

Avg Commute

19.3 min

Climate62.1°F

Avg Annual Temperature

62.1°F

Annual Precipitation

54.3 in

Huntsville cost of living — FAQ

Is Huntsville expensive to live in?: Huntsville is around the middle of the 158 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $900 per month ranks #105 of 158 and is 14% lower than the $1,043 median.
What is the average rent in Huntsville?: Average rent in Huntsville, AL runs a studio around $815, a one-bedroom around $900, a two-bedroom around $1,080, a three-bedroom around $1,251 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Huntsville?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $900 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year. The median household income here is $70,778.
How much does it cost to live in Huntsville per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Huntsville is about $1,090 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Huntsville with nearby cities

Huntsville vs Birmingham Huntsville vs Nashville Huntsville vs Atlanta Huntsville vs Bowling Green Huntsville vs Montgomery Huntsville vs Columbus

Nearby cities

Birmingham, AL 85 mi Nashville, TN 100 mi Atlanta, GA 143 mi Bowling Green, KY 155 mi Montgomery, AL 164 mi Columbus, GA 182 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.