Cost of Living in Fort Payne, AL
Updated November 2026 · DeKalb County · Fort Payne, AL micropolitan area · population 14,927
Prices in Fort Payne are 13.8% below the US average (local index 86.2; the BEA index for nonmetropolitan Alabama is 83.2), with local housing the biggest saving at 39.7; a single adult's modelled budget is about $2,053 a month and the median rent is $679.
Prices by category
CostLiving local estimate. 100 = US average; 110 means prices are 10% higher. Housing reflects Fort Payne's own median rent compared with the area's average rent; goods, utilities and other services are BEA's official price parities for nonmetropolitan Alabama, unchanged.
Fort Payne price index by category, US average = 100: All items 86.2, Housing (rents) 39.7, Goods 96.4, Utilities 85.6, Other services 96.7
It is the least expensive of the 14 Alabama cities in our data. Cheaper than 100% of the cities we cover.
| BEA index | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 83.5 | 81.3 | 83.3 | 81.8 | 82.6 | 83.2 |
Monthly budget by household type
1 adult · 1-bedroom · modelled estimate for Fort Payne, AL
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $472 | $5,664 | 23% |
| Utilities | $264 | $3,168 | 13% |
| Food at home | $272 | $3,264 | 13% |
| Transportation | $544 | $6,528 | 26% |
| Health care | $340 | $4,080 | 17% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $161 | $1,932 | 8% |
| Total | $2,053 | $24,636 | 100% |
2 adults · 2-bedroom · modelled estimate for Fort Payne, AL
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $538 | $6,456 | 15% |
| Utilities | $415 | $4,980 | 12% |
| Food at home | $502 | $6,024 | 14% |
| Transportation | $1,076 | $12,912 | 31% |
| Health care | $630 | $7,560 | 18% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $318 | $3,816 | 9% |
| Total | $3,479 | $41,748 | 100% |
2 adults + 2 children · 3-bedroom · modelled estimate for Fort Payne, AL
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $605 | $7,260 | 14% |
| Utilities | $506 | $6,072 | 12% |
| Food at home | $716 | $8,592 | 17% |
| Transportation | $1,432 | $17,184 | 34% |
| Health care | $587 | $7,044 | 14% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $410 | $4,920 | 10% |
| Total | $4,256 | $51,072 | 100% |
Modelled estimate of basic costs, excluding taxes, child care and savings. Housing is rent excluding tenant-paid utilities (counted under utilities). See how the budget is calculated.
Housing costs in Fort Payne
Rent by number of bedrooms
| Size | Median rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $600 modelled from city median rent |
| 1 bedroom | $593 modelled from city median rent |
| 2 bedrooms | $676 modelled from city median rent |
| 3 bedrooms | $761 modelled from city median rent |
| 4 bedrooms | $940 modelled from city median rent |
Median rent: Census ACS 2020-2024 median gross rent by bedrooms (rent plus tenant-paid utilities, all renters).
Rent, home values and affordability
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $679 |
| Median contract rent (excl. utilities) | $540 |
| Median home value | $157,000 |
| Owner costs with a mortgage | $1,103/mo |
| Median household income | $47,479 |
| Rent as % of renter income Moderate | 27.5% |
| Home value ÷ household income Affordable | 3.3× |
Census ACS 5-year 2020-2024.
Electricity and gas prices
Residential electricity in Alabama
16.33¢ per kWh, August 2026
12-month change: +0.4% (from 16.26¢) · US 18.16¢
Average household uses 1,139 kWh a month in Alabama ≈ $187/month. Source: EIA-861M (statewide average).
Regular gasoline regional figure: Gulf Coast (PADD 3)
$3.64 per gallon, week of 2026-11-02
12-month change: +44.8% (from $2.51) · US $4.15
EIA weekly retail price survey; Alabama is covered by the Gulf Coast (PADD 3) average.
Inflation in the South
Consumer prices in the South Census region rose +3.4% in the 12 months to September 2026 (US +3.7%). Nationally, food at home changed +1.8%, shelter +3.2% and energy +20.4%. Source: BLS CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted. CPI is published for regions and large metro areas, so the regional figure is shown.
Salary equivalent
Because prices in Fort Payne are 13.8% below the US average, $60,000 here has the buying power of about $69,600 in an average-priced US area.
Formula: US-equivalent = salary × 100 ÷ 86.2. Based on the local cost index (CostLiving estimate from BEA RPP and Census rents); taxes not included.
Nearby cities
| City | Distance | Index | Budget (single) | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guntersville, AL | 33 mi | 87.9 | $2,131 | $842 |
| Dalton, GA | 46 mi | 91.5 | $2,383 | $996 |
| Chattanooga, TN | 49 mi | 92.8 | $2,571 | $1,256 |
| Anniston, AL | 55 mi | 88.3 | $2,055 | $799 |
| Huntsville, AL | 58 mi | 92.7 | $2,449 | $1,171 |
| Madison, AL | 63 mi | 96.1 | $2,774 | $1,453 |
Cities with a similar cost of living
| City | Index | Budget (single) | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emporia, KS | 86.4 | $2,050 | $815 |
| Thibodaux, LA | 86.5 | $2,097 | $960 |
| Joplin, MO | 86.5 | $2,055 | $962 |
| Rolla, MO | 85.8 | $2,032 | $789 |
| Spirit Lake, IA | 86.6 | $2,234 | $911 |
| Sioux City, IA | 86.6 | $2,222 | $976 |
Compare Fort Payne with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is Fort Payne, AL an expensive place to live?
Fort Payne has a local cost of living index of 86.2, which is 13.8% below the US average. This CostLiving estimate starts from the BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for nonmetropolitan Alabama (83.2) and adjusts housing to Fort Payne's own rents. It is 2.7 points below the Alabama average. It is the least expensive of the 14 Alabama cities in our data. Cheaper than 100% of the cities we cover.
How much money do you need to live in Fort Payne?
Our modelled estimate of basic monthly costs is $2,053 for a single adult, $3,479 for a couple and $4,256 for a family of four, before taxes, child care and savings. A $60,000 salary in an average-priced US area buys about the same as $51,700 in Fort Payne.
What is the average rent in Fort Payne?
The median gross rent (rent plus tenant-paid utilities) is $679 a month (Census ACS 2020-2024). By size: 1 bedroom $593, 2 bedrooms $676, 3 bedrooms $761. The typical renter spends 27.5% of household income on rent (moderate).
How much does a house cost in Fort Payne?
The median owner-estimated home value is $157,000, 3.3 times the median household income of $47,479 (affordable). Owners with a mortgage pay a median $1,103 a month in housing costs.
How much is electricity and gas in Fort Payne?
Alabama residential electricity averaged 16.33¢ per kWh in August 2026 (US 18.16¢). Regular gasoline was $3.64 a gallon (Gulf Coast (PADD 3) average, week of 2026-11-02).
Sources and notes
- Local cost index: CostLiving estimate from BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for Alabama nonmetropolitan portion (BEA index 83.2) with housing from Census ACS median rent (city figure); see the methodology.
- Rents, home values, income, population: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2020-2024, Census place 0127616 (Fort Payne city).
- Electricity: EIA-861M, Alabama residential average, August 2026.
- Gasoline: EIA weekly retail regular gasoline, Gulf Coast (PADD 3), week of 2026-11-02.
- Inflation: BLS CPI-U South region, September 2026.
- Budget baselines: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2025; electricity use by household size: EIA RECS 2020.
- BEA area index: state nonmetro figure (in a micropolitan area; BEA publishes RPPs only for metro areas).
- Rents by bedrooms: modelled from city median rent (city bedroom medians: 1BR median has a wide margin of error).
- Gasoline price: regional figure (EIA publishes weekly prices for only 9 states).
Labels such as “county figure” or “state nonmetro figure” mark values that come from a larger area because the city-level figure is unavailable or unreliable. The monthly budget is a modelled estimate, not observed spending, and excludes taxes. This page is for general information and is not financial advice. Methodology · All sources