CostIndexUSA

Mobile, AL vs Saginaw, MI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableAL
Mobile
88.1
overall index
$1,250/mo rent
MI
Saginaw
90.9
overall index
$1,000/mo rent

Mobile is slightly cheaper than Saginaw — 3.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Mobile, you would need $82,500 in Saginaw. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+5.8%
Mobile
60.1
Saginaw
63.6
🛒 Groceries2.8%
Mobile
96.4
Saginaw
93.7
🚗 Transportation+3.0%
Mobile
101.5
Saginaw
104.5
🏥 Healthcare+2.9%
Mobile
91.9
Saginaw
94.6
Utilities+13.8%
Mobile
84.2
Saginaw
95.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Saginaw, MI
$82,500
$2,500 more needed in Saginaw

Formula: salary × (90.9 ÷ 88.1) = salary × 1.0318. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Mobile, AL

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

Saginaw, MI

Median Home Price
$160,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,000
Housing Index
63.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.3×

Saginaw has 5.8% higher housing costs compared to Mobile.

Income & Job Market

Mobile, AL

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

Saginaw, MI

Median Household Income
$59,300
Per Capita Income
$33,800
Unemployment Rate
6.2%
Population
44,909
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingGovernmentRetailEducation

Affordability at a Glance

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

Mobile, AL
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Saginaw, MI
4.9×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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.