Auburn-Opelika Odessa

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Verdict
Less Favorable
Cost Index: 87.9 → 93.9
Rent Delta: +$414/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + $5K higher median salary
  • + Better student-teacher ratios

Cons of Moving

  • - 6% higher cost of living
  • - $414/mo more expensive rent (2BR)
  • - More environmental violations

Moving from Auburn-Opelika to Odessa shifts your BEA Regional Price Parity from 87.9 to 93.9 (100 = US average), so a Auburn-Opelika salary needs to be multiplied by 1.07 to hold the same purchasing power in Odessa. On rent, HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom goes from $1,181/month in Auburn-Opelika to $1,595/month in Odessa - a higher monthly bill of $414, or $4,968/year. That rent delta alone is often the single biggest line item when relocating.

Wages tell the other half. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics report a median salary of $57,668 in Auburn-Opelika versus $62,946 in Odessa - a raw gap of $5,278 higher. The Odessa labor market has 73,580 tracked jobs against 62,880 in Auburn-Opelika, shaping how easy it is to find a comparable role. Combine that with the cost-of-living shift above and you get the real purchasing-power delta, sometimes a "higher salary" is actually a pay cut once rent and RPP are applied.

Safety, schools, and childcare round out the move. FBI UCR violent crime rates near Auburn-Opelika and Odessa are 376 and 395 per 100,000 (state-level). NCES student-teacher ratios run 17.7:1 at origin versus 14.7:1 at destination. DOL center-based infant care costs $6,896/year in Auburn-Opelika versus $7,566/year in Odessa. Our composite verdict - Less Favorable - weighs all seven federal sources; the dimension table below lets you override that with your personal priorities.

Dimension
Auburn-Opelika
Odessa
Winner
💰 Cost of Living
RPP 87.9
RPP 93.9
Auburn-Opelika
🏠 Rent (2BR)
$1,181/mo
$1,595/mo
Auburn-Opelika
💼 Wages
$57,668
$62,946
Odessa
🔒 Crime
376 per 100K
395 per 100K
Auburn-Opelika
🎓 Schools
17.7:1
14.7:1
Odessa
👶 Childcare
$6,896/yr
$7,566/yr
Auburn-Opelika
🌿 Environment
485 violations
33822 violations
Auburn-Opelika

Salary Adjustment Calculator

Enter your current salary in Auburn-Opelika to see what you'd need to earn in Odessa to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Odessa
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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Odessa more expensive than Auburn-Opelika?
Odessa has an RPP of 93.9 compared to Auburn-Opelika's 87.9 (100 = national average). Odessa is more expensive overall. The 2BR rent in Odessa is $1,595/mo vs $1,181/mo in Auburn-Opelika.
What are salaries like in Odessa compared to Auburn-Opelika?
The median salary in Odessa is $62,946 compared to $57,668 in Auburn-Opelika. That's a +$5,278 difference.
Is Odessa safer than Auburn-Opelika?
The violent crime rate near Odessa is 395 per 100K vs 376 per 100K near Auburn-Opelika (state-level data). Auburn-Opelika has a lower crime rate.
How much would I need to earn in Odessa to match my Auburn-Opelika salary?
To maintain the same purchasing power, multiply your Auburn-Opelika salary by 1.07. For example, a $75,000 salary in Auburn-Opelika would need to be $80,086 in Odessa. Use the salary calculator above for your exact figure.
What does the "Less Favorable" verdict mean?
The verdict is computed from 7 dimensions, cost of living, rent, wages, crime, schools, childcare, and environment, using federal data. "Less Favorable" means the origin edges ahead on balance. Individual priorities may shift the balance, weigh the dimensions that matter most to you.

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

Data Sources

  • Cost of Living: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities
  • Rent: HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR)
  • Wages: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES)
  • Crime: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) - state level
  • Schools: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
  • Childcare: Department of Labor (DOL) - state level
  • Environment: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)