CostIndexUSA

Huntsville, AL vs Modesto, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableAL
Huntsville
93.1
overall index
$1,400/mo rent
CA
Modesto
104.1
overall index
$2,100/mo rent

Huntsville is moderately cheaper than Modesto — 11.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Huntsville, you would need $89,500 in Modesto. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+39.3%
Huntsville
77.9
Modesto
108.5
🛒 Groceries+9.1%
Huntsville
96.4
Modesto
105.2
🚗 Transportation+3.7%
Huntsville
101.5
Modesto
105.3
🏥 Healthcare+3.7%
Huntsville
91.9
Modesto
95.3
Utilities+81.5%
Huntsville
83.9
Modesto
152.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Huntsville to see what you'd need to earn in Modesto to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Modesto, CA
$89,500
$9,500 more needed in Modesto

Formula: salary × (104.1 ÷ 93.1) = salary × 1.1182. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Huntsville, AL

Median Home Price
$307,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
77.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.3×

Modesto, CA

Median Home Price
$457,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,100
Housing Index
108.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.1×

Modesto has 39.3% higher housing costs compared to Huntsville.

Income & Job Market

Huntsville, AL

Median Household Income
$84,900
Per Capita Income
$48,400
Unemployment Rate
2.8%
Population
215,006
Top Industries
AerospaceDefenseTechnologyHealthcareEducation

Modesto, CA

Median Household Income
$82,800
Per Capita Income
$47,200
Unemployment Rate
6.6%
Population
218,464
Top Industries
AgricultureHealthcareManufacturingRetailEducation

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Huntsville, AL
5.1×income-to-rent ratio

80% of income left after rent (median)

Modesto, CA
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

70% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.