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Relocation profile · Federal data

Mobile, AL

BEA RPP 88.1 ranks #55 of 387 scored metros for lower prices (cheaper third).

88.1
Cost index (US=100)
$1,083
2BR rent / mo
$61,106
Median salary
54.6
LiveAbility Score

The verdict

As of June 2026, Mobile ranks #136 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (54.6/100), with its strongest marks in cost of living and housing.

#136
of 387 US metros · Above median
5,157,699
metro-area population
376
violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
1,369
schools in the state (NCES)

Weakest dimension: job market (20/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.

According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Mobile ranks #136 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 88.1 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,083/mo, median salary $61,106; LiveAbility Score 54.6/100, strongest in cost of living and housing.

Signature: BEA RPP 88.1 ranks #55 of 387 scored metros for lower prices (cheaper third).

Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP 88.1 lands in the cheaper third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $1,083/mo.

LiveAbility 54.6/100 keeps Mobile in the middle third (#136 of 387).

BLS OEWS total employment in the Mobile area is 162,680.

Mobile vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score

Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)

55 Top 35% higher than 65% of 387 US metros

Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026

Mobile housing and rent

HUD Fair Market Rents for the Mobile MSA; housing RPP 60.1 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,083/mo.

Studio
$854
/month
1 Bedroom
$919
/month
2 Bedroom
$1,083
/month
3 Bedroom
$1,414
/month
4 Bedroom
$1,445
/month

Mobile wages and employment

Mobile posts 162,680 total employment with median salary $61,106 against a cheaper-than-average RPP.

Median Salary
$61,106
Mean Salary
$64,729
Total Employment
162,680

Top Occupations by Employment

Occupation Median Salary
Registered Nurses $79,490
Retail Salespersons $29,710
Stockers and Order Fillers $35,070
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive $42,840
Cashiers $28,240

Schools & Education

State-level education data for the Mobile area from NCES.

Schools
1,369
Enrollment
746,604
Student:Teacher
17.7:1
Title I %
0%

Childcare Costs

State-average childcare costs for the Mobile area (DOL data).

Infant (Center)
$6,896
per year
Toddler (Center)
$6,716
per year
Preschool (Center)
$6,348
per year

Life Score Breakdown

Mobile's composite Life Score is 56.5/100 (C-), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.

Cost
86/100
Elite
Wages
20/100
Weak
Rent
85/100
Elite
Crime
40/100
Below average
Schools
71/100
Strong
Childcare
91/100
Elite
Environment
2/100
Bottom decile

LiveAbility Score

View full rankings →

Mobile ranks #136 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 54.6/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →

Strongest dimension: Cost of living (86/100)

Mobile - dimension scores

Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)

score

What this shows Mobile's strongest dimensions are cost of living and housing; its weakest among scored dims is job market at 20/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.

Source BEA · BLS · HUD · FBI · NCES · EPA · NOAA · FEMA As of Federal data, latest available vintage

Compare Mobile to

Fargo Farmington Fayetteville Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers Flagstaff Flint

Metros near Mobile on cost, LiveAbility, or wages

Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Mobile on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.

Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)

Similar LiveAbility score

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026

Mobile cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Mobile wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.

Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →

Thinking about Mobile?

Mobile runs a $61,106 median salary at a 88.1 cost index, ranking #136 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.

  • See exactly what Mobile's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
  • Put Mobile head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Mobile
  • Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
  • A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide

Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.