Alabama
- After state tax
- —
- Housing / month
- —
- Left after housing
- —
- Cost-adjusted remainder
- —
Alabama vs California
Alabama is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Alabama, California has higher incomes, Alabama has lower state income tax, and California gets more sunshine.
Alabama
AL · South
20 / 33
metrics won
Winner
VS
California
CA · West
13 / 33
metrics won
AL wins Housing
AL wins Quality of Life
AL wins Climate
CA wins Income
CA wins Demographics
AL wins Taxes
AL 20
13 CA
What matters to you?
Tell us your priority, get a verdict
Your match
Alabama fits you better
Alabama wins 20 of 33 scored metrics against California.
Your match — Saving Money
Alabama is cheaper overall
Cost-of-living index: 88.6 in Alabama vs 138.5 in California. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses. See full data →
Your match — Jobs
California has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $16.50/hr in California 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 8.25x in California. 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 59.4°F in California. See full data →
Your match — Family & Health
California looks better for families
California wins more family-oriented signals in this matchup, including life expectancy, uninsured rate, bachelor's degree, compared with Alabama. See full data →
Run the numbers
What's your salary really worth?
California
- 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
Sacramento
State Color
Solid Red
vs
Solid Blue
Population
5,223,121
39,345,844
Median Income
$54,943
$84,097
Cost of Living
88.6
138.5
Median Housing Value
$174,600
$693,700
Property Tax
0.38%
0.70%
State Income Tax
5.00%
13.30%
Minimum Wage
$7.25/hr
$16.50/hr
Gas Price
$3.840/gal
$5.929/gal
Electricity Rates
16.06 c/kWh
30.29 c/kWh
Livability Score
47.01
50.49
Average Temperature
62.8°F
59.4°F
Sunny Days
99 days
146 days
Land Area
52,419 sq mi
163,696 sq mi
Population Density
99.6 per sq mi
240.4 per sq mi
Statehood
December 14, 1819 (#22)
September 9, 1850 (#31)
Population
5,223,121
39,345,844
Population Density
99.6 per sq mi
240.4 per sq mi
Bachelor's Degree
28.9%
37.5%
Advanced Degree
11.3%
14.7%
Net Domestic Migration
+23,400
-229,100
Population Growth Since 2020
+3.9%
-0.5%
Livability Score
47.01
50.49
Best State to Live In
47.01
50.49
Cost of Living
88.6
138.5
Gas Price
$3.840/gal
$5.929/gal
Gas Tax
29.00 c/gal
54.00 c/gal
Electricity Rates
16.06 c/kWh
30.29 c/kWh
Commute Time
25.0 min
28.4 min
Car Insurance Cost
$2,029/yr
$2,567/yr
Average Credit Score
689
721
Average Temperature
62.8°F
59.4°F
Summer Temperature
78.6°F
73.4°F
Winter Temperature
46.5°F
46.2°F
Sunny Days
99 days
146 days
Annual Precipitation
58.3 in
22.2 in
Average Wind Speed
6.3 mph
7.0 mph
Lightning Density
110.7 per sq mi
3.6 per sq mi
Median Housing Value
$174,600
$693,700
Median Gross Rent
$925/mo
$1,856/mo
Median Monthly Owner Costs With Mortgage
$1,500/mo
$3,001/mo
Owner Costs Without Mortgage
$469/mo
$882/mo
Homeownership Rate
69.6%
55.8%
Home Value to Income Ratio
3.18x
8.25x
Rent to Income Ratio
20.2%
26.5%
Owner Costs to Income
14.8%
21.0%
Home Insurance Cost
$4,637/yr
$1,348/yr
State Income Tax
5.00%
13.30%
State Sales Tax
4.00%
7.25%
Property Tax
0.38%
0.70%
Total Tax Burden
7.93%
9.24%
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
Solid Blue
Presidential Voting Margin
Rep +30.47
Dem +20.10
Swing State / Battleground
Not a battleground
vs
Not a battleground
Governor Party
Republican
vs
Democratic
State House Control
Republican
vs
Democratic
State Senate Control
Republican
vs
Democratic
Trifecta
Republican Trifecta
vs
Democratic Trifecta
Electoral Votes
9
54
Gun Laws Status
Permissive
vs
Restrictive
Alcohol Laws
Control State
vs
License State
Marijuana Legalization
Medical
vs
Legal
Minimum Marriage Age
16
No statutory minimum
Gun Ownership
55.5%
20.7%
Abortion Law Status
Total Ban (Banned)
vs
Legal - Viability (~24 weeks (viability))
Right-to-Work Law
Yes
vs
No
Land Area
52,419 sq mi
163,696 sq mi
Highest Point
Cheaha Mountain (2,413 ft)
Mount Whitney (14,505 ft)
Statehood
December 14, 1819 (#22)
September 9, 1850 (#31)
Capital City
Montgomery
vs
Sacramento
Region
South
vs
West
Life Expectancy
73.2 yrs
79.2 yrs
Older Adult Health Outcomes
34.9
74.7
Uninsured Rate
8.5%
6.4%
Obesity Rate
38.9%
29.1%
Healthcare Quality Score
44.4
71.6
Infant Mortality Rate
7.06 per 1,000
4.18 per 1,000
Drug Overdose Death Rate
25.0 per 100,000
21.7 per 100,000
Violent Crime Rate
447.8 per 100k
499.5 per 100k
Property Crime Rate
1733.9 per 100k
2387.5 per 100k
AZA-Accredited Zoos
1
25
Casinos
3 (Wind Creek Atmore)
83 (Pechanga Resort Casino)
UFO Sightings per 100,000
28.0 per 100K
41.1 per 100K
Most Popular Car
Toyota
vs
Tesla
K-12 Education Rank
#47
#32
High School Graduation Rate
91.0%
84.0%
Student-Teacher Ratio
17.0:1
22.2:1
School Spending
$13,598
$20,233
Teacher Salary
$62,985
$103,552
Public School Ranking
#43
#8
Student Loan Debt
$37,819
$38,300
College Graduation Rate
46.9%
60.2%
Median Income
$54,943
$84,097
Regional Price Parity
87.2
113.4
Purchasing Power of $100
$114.62
$92.31
Poverty Rate
15.6%
12.0%
Employment/Population Ratio
55.8%
60.2%
Unemployment Rate
2.7%
5.5%
Job Growth
0.5%
-0.1%
Infant Childcare Cost
$7,871/yr
$21,945/yr
Income Needed to Live Alone
$85,280/yr
$119,475/yr
Water Quality Score
84.1/100 (A)
83.7/100 (A)
Annual Power Outage Hours
4.7 hours/yr
4.7 hours/yr
Road Quality Rank
#4
#47
Renewable Electricity Share
3.3%
43.6%
Largest Airport
Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International (BHM)
vs
Los Angeles International (LAX)
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 job growth trend is stronger.
Cons
- Alabama shows lower median income.
- Alabama health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Alabama health coverage access proxy is weaker.
- Alabama education proxy is lower.
- Alabama has fewer sunny days.
California
Pros
- California shows higher median income.
- California health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- California health coverage access proxy is stronger.
- California education proxy is higher.
- California has more sunny days.
Cons
- California has a higher overall cost of living.
- California has a higher housing cost index.
- California has higher median home values.
- California has higher property tax rates on average.
- California has a higher violent crime rate.
- California job growth trend is weaker.
People also ask
Alabama vs California — common questions
QIs Alabama cheaper to live in than California?
Alabama has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Alabama scores 88.6 versus 138.5 for California - a gap of 49.9 points.
QWhere does $100 go further - Alabama or California?
$100 goes further in Alabama. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $114.62 in Alabama, compared with $92.31 in California.
QWhich state is bigger - Alabama or California?
California is larger, covering 163,696 sq mi compared with 52,419 sq mi for Alabama - roughly 3.1x the size.
QDoes Alabama or California have more people?
California has the larger population at 39,345,844, compared with 5,223,121 in Alabama.
QWhich state has higher household income - Alabama or California?
California has the higher median household income at $84,097, versus $54,943 in Alabama.
QWhich state has lower income taxes - Alabama or California?
Alabama has the lower state income tax top rate at 5.00%, compared with 13.30% in California.
QIs housing cheaper in Alabama or California?
Homes are cheaper in Alabama, where the median home value is $174,600, versus $693,700 in California.
QWhich state is more densely populated - Alabama or California?
California is more densely populated at 240.4 per sq mi people per sq mi. Alabama is more spread out at 99.6 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.