Daphne-Fairhope-Foley cost of living
Prices in the Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL metro area run at 94.7 against a national average of 100, ranking it #172 of 387 metros. Rents there sit at 89.2.
What drives the number
Prices in Daphne-Fairhope-Foley run at 94.7 where the national average is 100, so about 5.3 per cent below the country as a whole. It ranks #172 of 387 metro areas. Against Alabama as a whole it is 5.9 points more expensive, which is the usual direction: cities cost more than the states around them.
The parts move together here rather than pulling against each other: goods at 96.4, rents at 89.2, other services at 83.3. That is less common than it sounds. In most places rents sit well away from the other two, and the overall figure is really a housing figure in disguise.
A salary here goes further than the same salary somewhere at 100. Divide by 94.7 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 Daphne-Fairhope-Foley 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 | 4,460 | $29,170 | $30,803 | $34,580 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 2,960 | $21,990 | $23,221 | $33,760 |
| Cashiers | 2,880 | $27,140 | $28,659 | $31,190 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 2,120 | $34,340 | $36,262 | $37,090 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 2,060 | $23,360 | $24,667 | $30,480 |
| Registered Nurses | 1,790 | $77,160 | $81,478 | $93,600 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 1,720 | $39,150 | $41,341 | $46,290 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | 1,680 | $30,100 | $31,785 | $36,830 |
Pay from the BLS metro survey, adjusted by dividing by the metro parity of 94.7.
Nearby metro areas
| Metro area | All items | Rents | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 87.9 | 62.1 | #338 |
Daphne-Fairhope-Foley: common questions
Is Daphne-Fairhope-Foley expensive?
Prices are 5.3% below the national average, a parity of 94.7 where the country is 100. It ranks #172 of the 387 metro areas BEA measures. Against Alabama as a whole it is 5.9 points more expensive.
What salary do you need in Daphne-Fairhope-Foley?
The median worker there earns $37,430, which buys what $39,525 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 89.2 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.