Auburn-Opelika cost of living
Prices in the Auburn-Opelika, AL metro area run at 87.9 against a national average of 100, ranking it #338 of 387 metros. Rents there sit at 62.1.
What drives the number
Prices in Auburn-Opelika run at 87.9 where the national average is 100, so about 12.1 per cent below the country as a whole. It ranks #338 of 387 metro areas. Against Alabama as a whole it is 0.9 points less expensive, which is the unusual direction, and it means the expensive part of the state is somewhere else.
Housing is unusually cheap relative to everything else here. Rents sit at 62.1 against goods at 96.4 and other services at 83.9, so the overall figure of 87.9 understates how affordable the housing itself is. That combination, ordinary prices with cheap rent, is what people are usually looking for and rarely find.
A salary here goes further than the same salary somewhere at 100. Divide by 87.9 and multiply by 100 to get the nationally comparable figure, and it will come out higher than the headline.
The vertical line is the national average of 100. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, SARPP, 2024.
What the biggest local jobs are really worth
The same pay buys different amounts in different places, so a salary quoted in Auburn-Opelika is not comparable to one quoted elsewhere until it is divided by the local parity. These are the occupations that employ the most people here, with the quoted median alongside what that median is worth at national prices.
| Occupation | Employed | Median pay | Worth nationally | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | 2,170 | $28,950 | $32,935 | $34,580 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 2,130 | $23,820 | $27,099 | $30,480 |
| Cashiers | 2,040 | $26,890 | $30,592 | $31,190 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 1,700 | $34,760 | $39,545 | $42,210 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 1,690 | $32,810 | $37,327 | $37,090 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 1,370 | $22,090 | $25,131 | $33,760 |
| Registered Nurses | 1,350 | $77,720 | $88,419 | $93,600 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 1,330 | $39,580 | $45,028 | $46,290 |
Pay from the BLS metro survey, adjusted by dividing by the metro parity of 87.9.
Nearby metro areas
| Metro area | All items | Rents | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley | 94.7 | 89.2 | #172 |
| Huntsville | 93.1 | 77.9 | #207 |
| Birmingham | 91.6 | 71.9 | #254 |
| Montgomery | 89.7 | 64.3 | #295 |
| Columbus | 89.3 | 61.2 | #304 |
| Mobile | 88.1 | 60.1 | #333 |
Auburn-Opelika: common questions
Is Auburn-Opelika expensive?
Prices are 12.1% below the national average, a parity of 87.9 where the country is 100. It ranks #338 of the 387 metro areas BEA measures. Against Alabama as a whole it is 0.9 points less expensive.
What salary do you need in Auburn-Opelika?
The median worker there earns $38,060, which buys what $43,299 buys nationally once local prices are taken into account. Comparing a salary offer between cities without this adjustment is comparing nothing useful.
Is housing the reason?
Usually. Rents here are at 62.1 against goods at 96.4. Goods barely vary between American cities because most are shipped and priced nationally; housing varies enormously, and it dominates any cost of living comparison.