CostIndexUSA

Lawrence, KS vs Mobile, AL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

KS
Lawrence
90.2
overall index
$1,475/mo rent
More AffordableAL
Mobile
88.1
overall index
$1,250/mo rent

Mobile is slightly cheaper than Lawrence — 2.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Lawrence, you would need $78,100 in Mobile. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing16.1%
Lawrence
71.6
Mobile
60.1
🛒 Groceries+2.6%
Lawrence
94
Mobile
96.4
🚗 Transportation+3.0%
Lawrence
98.5
Mobile
101.5
🏥 Healthcare+3.1%
Lawrence
89.1
Mobile
91.9
Utilities5.7%
Lawrence
89.3
Mobile
84.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Mobile, AL
$78,100
$1,900 less needed in Mobile

Formula: salary × (88.1 ÷ 90.2) = salary × 0.9767. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Lawrence, KS

Median Home Price
$320,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
71.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.1×

Mobile, AL

Median Home Price
$187,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,250
Housing Index
60.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.5×

Lawrence has 16.1% lower housing costs compared to Mobile.

Income & Job Market

Lawrence, KS

Median Household Income
$67,000
Per Capita Income
$38,200
Unemployment Rate
5.2%
Population
98,004
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyRetailManufacturing

Mobile, AL

Median Household Income
$55,400
Per Capita Income
$31,600
Unemployment Rate
3.1%
Population
187,041
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingLogisticsMilitaryAerospace

Affordability at a Glance

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

Lawrence, KS
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Mobile, AL
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.