CostIndexUSA

St. Petersburg, FL vs Tuscaloosa, AL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

FL
St. Petersburg
100.9
overall index
$1,975/mo rent
More AffordableAL
Tuscaloosa
87.7
overall index
$1,525/mo rent

Tuscaloosa is moderately cheaper than St. Petersburg — 13.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in St. Petersburg, you would need $69,500 in Tuscaloosa. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing53.7%
St. Petersburg
125.8
Tuscaloosa
58.2
🛒 Groceries+0.9%
St. Petersburg
95.5
Tuscaloosa
96.4
🚗 Transportation0.9%
St. Petersburg
102.4
Tuscaloosa
101.5
🏥 Healthcare0.9%
St. Petersburg
92.7
Tuscaloosa
91.9
Utilities4.6%
St. Petersburg
88.5
Tuscaloosa
84.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in St. Petersburg to see what you'd need to earn in Tuscaloosa to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Tuscaloosa, AL
$69,500
$10,500 less needed in Tuscaloosa

Formula: salary × (87.7 ÷ 100.9) = salary × 0.8692. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

St. Petersburg, FL

Median Home Price
$352,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,975
Housing Index
125.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.9×

Tuscaloosa, AL

Median Home Price
$213,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,525
Housing Index
58.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.6×

St. Petersburg has 53.7% lower housing costs compared to Tuscaloosa.

Income & Job Market

St. Petersburg, FL

Median Household Income
$72,700
Per Capita Income
$41,400
Unemployment Rate
4.1%
Population
258,308
Top Industries
HealthcareFinanceTourismTechnologyRetail

Tuscaloosa, AL

Median Household Income
$58,200
Per Capita Income
$33,200
Unemployment Rate
5.9%
Population
99,543
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareManufacturingAutomotiveGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

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

St. Petersburg, FL
3.1×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

Tuscaloosa, AL
3.2×income-to-rent ratio

69% 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.