Relocation profile · Federal data
Tuscaloosa, AL
BEA RPP 87.7 ranks #47 of 387 scored metros for lower prices (cheaper third).
- 87.7
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,140
- 2BR rent / mo
- $58,026
- Median salary
- 59.9
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Tuscaloosa ranks #57 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (59.9/100), with its strongest marks in cost of living and air quality.
- #57
- of 387 US metros · Excellent
- 5,157,699
- metro-area population
- 376
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 1,369
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: schools (27/100). 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), Tuscaloosa ranks #57 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 87.7 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,140/mo, median salary $58,026; LiveAbility Score 59.9/100, strongest in cost of living and air quality.
Signature: BEA RPP 87.7 ranks #47 of 387 scored metros for lower prices (cheaper third).
Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP 87.7 lands in the cheaper third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $1,140/mo.
LiveAbility 59.9/100 puts Tuscaloosa in the top third (#57 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Tuscaloosa area is 96,660.
Tuscaloosa 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)
60 Top 15% higher than 85% 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
Tuscaloosa housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Tuscaloosa MSA; housing RPP 58.2 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,140/mo.
Tuscaloosa wages and employment
Tuscaloosa posts 96,660 total employment with median salary $58,026 against a cheaper-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $53,050 |
| Retail Salespersons | $29,630 |
| Cashiers | $28,110 |
| Registered Nurses | $75,250 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $24,630 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Tuscaloosa area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Tuscaloosa area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Tuscaloosa's composite Life Score is 57.4/100 (C-), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Tuscaloosa ranks #57 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 59.9/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Tuscaloosa - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Cost of living
Cost of living
88 /100
- Air quality
Air quality
84 /100
- Housing
Housing
75 /100
- Climate
Climate
74 /100
- Low hazard
Low hazard
60 /100
- Safety
Safety
39 /100
- Job market 31
Job market
31 /100
- Schools 27
Schools
27 /100
What this shows Tuscaloosa's strongest dimensions are cost of living and air quality; its weakest among scored dims is schools at 27/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Compare Tuscaloosa to
Metros near Tuscaloosa on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Tuscaloosa on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Tuscaloosa cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Tuscaloosa 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 Tuscaloosa?
Tuscaloosa runs a $58,026 median salary at a 87.7 cost index, ranking #57 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Tuscaloosa's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Tuscaloosa head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Tuscaloosa
- 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.