Overall
87.2
-12.8 below avg
2024 BEA RPP All 4 categories Federal source
Decatur, AL
Cost-of-living indicators for Decatur, AL, compiled from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2024 data year). Categories include All Items, Goods, Services, and Rents.
CBSA: 19460 · Data year: 2024 · Rank: #350 of 387
Decatur, AL has a cost of living index of 87.2, meaning it's 12.8% less expensive than the national average. Goods cost 3.6% less, services 15.3% less, and rents are 41.9% below average. A $100K national salary has the purchasing power of $114,663 here.
What the Numbers Mean for Decatur
Decatur ranks #350 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the bottom quartile for cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 87.2, Decatur, AL is 12.8% less expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Decatur's most and least expensive categories — the priciest line item versus rents at 58.1 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.
Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $114,663 inside Decatur, while a household needs roughly $87,212 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 58.1 — 41.9% below the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.
Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Decatur's overall index has fallen by 2.6 points, improving relative affordability. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 96.4 and services at 84.7, meaning everyday spending in Decatur is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.
Decatur Cost Index at a Glance
Decatur all-items cost index
Regional Price Parity vs national average (100)
Decatur category breakdown
BEA RPP composition by goods, services, rents, overall
Price Index Summary
Goods
96.4
-3.6 below avg
Services
84.7
-15.3 below avg
Rents
58.1
-41.9 below avg
Price Index vs National Average (100)
Overall
National avg
Index 87.2 (-12.8 vs national avg)
Goods
National avg
Index 96.4 (-3.6 vs national avg)
Services
National avg
Index 84.7 (-15.3 vs national avg)
Rents
National avg
Index 58.1 (-41.9 vs national avg)
Vertical line on each bar = national average (100)
Cost Breakdown Analysis
Below National Average
Rents -41.9% (58.1)
Services -15.3% (84.7)
Overall -12.8% (87.2)
Goods -3.6% (96.4)
Income Adequacy in Decatur
Decatur income adequacy score
$75,000 median income vs RPP 87.2
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
$87,212
in Decatur, AL purchasing power
$50,000 nationally
$43,606
$75,000 nationally
$65,409
$125,000 nationally
$109,015
$150,000 nationally
$130,818
$200,000 nationally
$174,424
Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.
RPP History (2008-2024)
The cost of living has been trending downward, decreasing by 2.6 points over this period.
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 89.8 |
| 2009 | 85.2 |
| 2010 | 88.8 |
| 2011 | 90.5 |
| 2012 | 88.2 |
| 2013 | 90.7 |
| 2014 | 87.3 |
| 2015 | 90.2 |
| 2016 | 89.2 |
| 2017 | 89.0 |
| 2018 | 87.2 |
| 2019 | 84.4 |
| 2020 | 87.2 |
| 2021 | 86.2 |
| 2022 | 87.4 |
| 2023 | 89.2 |
| 2024 | 87.2 |
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to Decatur, AL's index of 87.2.
Other AL Metros
Related Data for Decatur
Salary Data
BLS occupation wages for Decatur area
Fair Market Rents
HUD rent data for Decatur metro
Crime Rates
FBI UCR crime data near Decatur
School Districts
NCES school data for Decatur area
ZIP Code Data
Census demographics for Decatur area
Life Score
Quality-of-life composite rating
Relocation Guide
7-dimension relocation intelligence
Cost of Living Guides
Cheapest Metros to Live in 2026
Official BEA data on the most affordable areas
Most Expensive Cities: 2026 Rankings
What drives high costs and how to cope
Salary Negotiation Using RPP Data
Calculate real purchasing power for negotiations
Comparing Metro Areas
Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Decatur, AL? ▼
Decatur, AL has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 87.2, meaning it is 12.8% less expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 96.4, services at 84.7, and rents at 58.1. It ranks #350 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Decatur, AL to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $87,212 in Decatur, AL. Conversely, $100K earned in Decatur, AL has the purchasing power of $114,663 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Decatur, AL? ▼
Rents in Decatur, AL are indexed at 58.1, which is 41.9% below the national average. This makes the area relatively affordable for renters.
Is Decatur, AL getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Decatur, AL's overall cost index changed by -2.6 points (from 89.8 to 87.2). The cost of living has been declining.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Decatur, AL? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Lafayette, Dubuque, Parkersburg-Vienna. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Decatur, AL's 87.2.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.
Related
Data sourced from official U.S. government datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — cost-of-living indices by metro and state. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — inflation context by metro. bls.gov/cpi
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — housing-cost component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage component. bls.gov/oes
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS — household income + demographics. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) — tax-burden context. irs.gov/statistics
