Alabama
- After state tax
- —
- Housing / month
- —
- Left after housing
- —
- Cost-adjusted remainder
- —
Alabama vs Arizona
Alabama is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Alabama, Arizona has higher incomes, Arizona has lower state income tax, and Arizona gets more sunshine.
Alabama
AL · South
19 / 33
metrics won
Winner
VS
Arizona
AZ · West
14 / 33
metrics won
AL wins Housing
AL wins Quality of Life
AL wins Climate
AZ wins Income
AZ wins Demographics
AL wins Taxes
AL 19
14 AZ
What matters to you?
Tell us your priority, get a verdict
Your match
Alabama fits you better
Alabama wins 19 of 33 scored metrics against Arizona.
Your match — Saving Money
Alabama is cheaper overall
Cost-of-living index: 88.6 in Alabama vs 103.1 in Arizona. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses. See full data →
Your match — Jobs
Arizona has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $14.35/hr in Arizona vs $7.25/hr in Alabama. Matters most for hourly and entry-level work. See full data →
Your match — Housing
Alabama is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 3.18x in Alabama vs 4.51x in Arizona. Lower means the median home is easier to afford on a median income. See full data →
Your match — Weather
Alabama is warmer overall
Average annual temperature: 62.8°F in Alabama vs 60.3°F in Arizona. See full data →
Run the numbers
What's your salary really worth?
Arizona
- After state tax
- —
- Housing / month
- —
- Left after housing
- —
- Cost-adjusted remainder
- —
Illustrative estimate only. Uses top marginal state income tax rate, BEA Regional Price Parity, and median housing costs — excludes federal tax, utilities, insurance, childcare, and debt.
Full comparison
Every metric, side by side
Pick a category. Each row opens the full breakdown for that metric — national rank, chart, and sourcing.
Capital City
Montgomery
vs
Phoenix
State Color
Solid Red
vs
Swing State
Population
5,223,121
7,691,212
Median Income
$54,943
$72,581
Cost of Living
88.6
103.1
Median Housing Value
$174,600
$327,400
Property Tax
0.38%
0.48%
State Income Tax
5.00%
2.50%
Minimum Wage
$7.25/hr
$14.35/hr
Gas Price
$3.840/gal
$4.742/gal
Electricity Rates
16.06 c/kWh
15.61 c/kWh
Livability Score
47.01
51.01
Average Temperature
62.8°F
60.3°F
Sunny Days
99 days
193 days
Land Area
52,419 sq mi
113,990 sq mi
Population Density
99.6 per sq mi
67.5 per sq mi
Statehood
December 14, 1819 (#22)
February 14, 1912 (#48)
Population
5,223,121
7,691,212
Population Density
99.6 per sq mi
67.5 per sq mi
Bachelor's Degree
28.9%
33.5%
Advanced Degree
11.3%
13.1%
Net Domestic Migration
+23,400
+31,100
Population Growth Since 2020
+3.9%
+7.5%
Livability Score
47.01
51.01
Best State to Live In
47.01
51.01
Cost of Living
88.6
103.1
Gas Price
$3.840/gal
$4.742/gal
Gas Tax
29.00 c/gal
18.00 c/gal
Electricity Rates
16.06 c/kWh
15.61 c/kWh
Commute Time
25.0 min
25.9 min
Car Insurance Cost
$2,029/yr
$2,111/yr
Average Credit Score
689
709
Average Temperature
62.8°F
60.3°F
Summer Temperature
78.6°F
78.1°F
Winter Temperature
46.5°F
43.6°F
Sunny Days
99 days
193 days
Annual Precipitation
58.3 in
13.6 in
Average Wind Speed
6.3 mph
7.3 mph
Lightning Density
110.7 per sq mi
28.2 per sq mi
Median Housing Value
$174,600
$327,400
Median Gross Rent
$925/mo
$1,311/mo
Median Monthly Owner Costs With Mortgage
$1,500/mo
$1,893/mo
Owner Costs Without Mortgage
$469/mo
$560/mo
Homeownership Rate
69.6%
65.5%
Home Value to Income Ratio
3.18x
4.51x
Rent to Income Ratio
20.2%
21.7%
Owner Costs to Income
14.8%
16.6%
Home Insurance Cost
$4,637/yr
$2,605/yr
State Income Tax
5.00%
2.50%
State Sales Tax
4.00%
5.60%
Property Tax
0.38%
0.48%
Total Tax Burden
7.93%
7.24%
Grocery Tax Rate
3% (Reduced)
0% (Exempt)
Estate and Inheritance Tax
No State Death Tax
vs
No State Death Tax
Annual Vehicle Property Tax
Yes
vs
No
State Color
Solid Red
vs
Swing State
Presidential Voting Margin
Rep +30.47
Rep +5.51
Swing State / Battleground
Not a battleground
vs
Battleground
Governor Party
Republican
vs
Democratic
State House Control
Republican
vs
Republican
State Senate Control
Republican
vs
Republican
Trifecta
Republican Trifecta
vs
No Trifecta
Electoral Votes
9
11
Gun Laws Status
Permissive
vs
Permissive
Alcohol Laws
Control State
vs
License State
Marijuana Legalization
Medical
vs
Legal
Minimum Marriage Age
16
16
Gun Ownership
55.5%
39.5%
Abortion Law Status
Total Ban (Banned)
vs
Legal - Viability (~24 weeks (viability))
Right-to-Work Law
Yes
vs
Yes
Land Area
52,419 sq mi
113,990 sq mi
Highest Point
Cheaha Mountain (2,413 ft)
Humphreys Peak (12,637 ft)
Statehood
December 14, 1819 (#22)
February 14, 1912 (#48)
Capital City
Montgomery
vs
Phoenix
Region
South
vs
West
Life Expectancy
73.2 yrs
76.6 yrs
Older Adult Health Outcomes
34.9
51.3
Uninsured Rate
8.5%
9.9%
Obesity Rate
38.9%
33.3%
Healthcare Quality Score
44.4
55.8
Infant Mortality Rate
7.06 per 1,000
5.40 per 1,000
Drug Overdose Death Rate
25.0 per 100,000
32.6 per 100,000
Violent Crime Rate
447.8 per 100k
473.4 per 100k
Property Crime Rate
1733.9 per 100k
2150.2 per 100k
AZA-Accredited Zoos
1
5
Casinos
3 (Wind Creek Atmore)
29 (Talking Stick Resort)
UFO Sightings per 100,000
28.0 per 100K
64.0 per 100K
Most Popular Car
Toyota
vs
Tesla
K-12 Education Rank
#47
#49
High School Graduation Rate
91.0%
82.0%
Student-Teacher Ratio
17.0:1
20.4:1
School Spending
$13,598
$12,003
Teacher Salary
$62,985
$64,291
Public School Ranking
#43
#50
Student Loan Debt
$37,819
$35,792
College Graduation Rate
46.9%
40.1%
Median Income
$54,943
$72,581
Regional Price Parity
87.2
99.2
Purchasing Power of $100
$114.62
$103.97
Poverty Rate
15.6%
12.4%
Employment/Population Ratio
55.8%
57.8%
Unemployment Rate
2.7%
4.3%
Job Growth
0.5%
0.8%
Infant Childcare Cost
$7,871/yr
$15,625/yr
Income Needed to Live Alone
$85,280/yr
$101,587/yr
Water Quality Score
84.1/100 (A)
77.4/100 (B)
Annual Power Outage Hours
4.7 hours/yr
1.5 hours/yr
Road Quality Rank
#4
#35
Renewable Electricity Share
3.3%
17.0%
Largest Airport
Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International (BHM)
vs
Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX)
Tradeoffs
Pros and cons for each state
The biggest advantages and drawbacks pulled from affordability, housing, income, taxes, safety, health, education, jobs, and weather.
Alabama
Pros
- Alabama has a lower overall cost of living.
- Alabama has a lower housing cost index.
- Alabama has lower median home values.
- Alabama has lower property tax rates on average.
- Alabama has a lower violent crime rate.
- Alabama health coverage access proxy is stronger.
Cons
- Alabama shows lower median income.
- Alabama job growth trend is weaker.
- Alabama health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Alabama education proxy is lower.
- Alabama has fewer sunny days.
Arizona
Pros
- Arizona shows higher median income.
- Arizona job growth trend is stronger.
- Arizona health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- Arizona education proxy is higher.
- Arizona has more sunny days.
Cons
- Arizona has a higher overall cost of living.
- Arizona has a higher housing cost index.
- Arizona has higher median home values.
- Arizona has higher property tax rates on average.
- Arizona has a higher violent crime rate.
- Arizona health coverage access proxy is weaker.
People also ask
Alabama vs Arizona — common questions
QIs Alabama cheaper to live in than Arizona?
Alabama has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Alabama scores 88.6 versus 103.1 for Arizona - a gap of 14.5 points.
QWhere does $100 go further - Alabama or Arizona?
$100 goes further in Alabama. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $114.62 in Alabama, compared with $103.97 in Arizona.
QWhich state is bigger - Alabama or Arizona?
Arizona is larger, covering 113,990 sq mi compared with 52,419 sq mi for Alabama - roughly 2.2x the size.
QDoes Alabama or Arizona have more people?
Arizona has the larger population at 7,691,212, compared with 5,223,121 in Alabama.
QWhich state has higher household income - Alabama or Arizona?
Arizona has the higher median household income at $72,581, versus $54,943 in Alabama.
QWhich state has lower income taxes - Alabama or Arizona?
Arizona has the lower state income tax top rate at 2.50%, compared with 5.00% in Alabama.
QIs housing cheaper in Alabama or Arizona?
Homes are cheaper in Alabama, where the median home value is $174,600, versus $327,400 in Arizona.
QWhich state is more densely populated - Alabama or Arizona?
Alabama is more densely populated at 99.6 per sq mi people per sq mi. Arizona is more spread out at 67.5 per sq mi people per sq mi.
Related comparisons
Methodology
Figures combine government datasets, named research sources, and clearly labeled derived scores. Dataset reviewed July 23, 2026.
Demographics & geography
2020 Census, American Community Survey, TIGER/Line Files, National Archives
Income, housing & cost of living
American Community Survey, BLS, BEA Regional Price Parities, and named market studies
Wages & energy
U.S. Department of Labor, AAA, U.S. EIA
Politics & law
NCSL, Giffords Law Center, NABCA
Data periods differ by metric. Open any individual comparison metric to see its primary source, data period, review date, and calculation note. Daily-changing fields such as gas prices are stored snapshots unless the page explicitly says a live feed is used.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau — 2020 Census
- U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau — TIGER/Line Files
- National Archives
- BEA — Regional Price Parities
- BLS — State Labor Market Data
- NOAA — U.S. Climate Normals
- FBI — Crime Data Explorer
- FEMA — National Risk Index
- U.S. Department of Labor — State Minimum Wage Laws
- AAA — Gas Prices
- U.S. Energy Information Administration — Electricity
- NCSL — State Partisan Composition
- Giffords Law Center — Annual Gun Law Scorecard
- NABCA
- NCSL — State Medical Cannabis Laws
See our editorial policy for how we review and update these pages.