CostIndexUSA

Tuscaloosa, AL vs Waterbury, CT Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableAL
Tuscaloosa
87.7
overall index
$1,525/mo rent
CT
Waterbury
99.8
overall index
$1,325/mo rent

Tuscaloosa is moderately cheaper than Waterbury — 13.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Tuscaloosa, you would need $91,000 in Waterbury. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+53.1%
Tuscaloosa
58.2
Waterbury
89.1
🛒 Groceries+0.9%
Tuscaloosa
96.4
Waterbury
97.3
🚗 Transportation+6.2%
Tuscaloosa
101.5
Waterbury
107.8
🏥 Healthcare+6.1%
Tuscaloosa
91.9
Waterbury
97.5
Utilities+74.9%
Tuscaloosa
84.4
Waterbury
147.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Waterbury, CT
$91,000
$11,000 more needed in Waterbury

Formula: salary × (99.8 ÷ 87.7) = salary × 1.1380. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Tuscaloosa, AL

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

Waterbury, CT

Median Home Price
$420,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,325
Housing Index
89.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.4×

Waterbury has 53.1% higher housing costs compared to Tuscaloosa.

Income & Job Market

Tuscaloosa, AL

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

Waterbury, CT

Median Household Income
$81,300
Per Capita Income
$46,300
Unemployment Rate
5.3%
Population
114,403
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingFinanceEducationGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

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

Tuscaloosa, AL
3.2×income-to-rent ratio

69% of income left after rent (median)

Waterbury, CT
5.1×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.