City Comparison

Huntsville vs Toledo

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Huntsville

Alabama
91
Below Average
$260,000
Median Home
$1,200/mo
Median Rent
$56,098
Median Income

Toledo

Ohio
77
Very Affordable
$128,000
Median Home
$825/mo
Median Rent
$42,200
Median Income

The Verdict

18.2%

Toledo is 18.2% less expensive than Huntsville overall. A household earning $75,000 in Huntsville would need approximately $63,462 in Toledo to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
79
Huntsville
55
Toledo
Groceries
96
Huntsville
98
Toledo
Utilities
91
Huntsville
92
Toledo
Transportation
98
Huntsville
101
Toledo
Healthcare
93
Huntsville
84
Toledo

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Huntsville has the same purchasing power as $63,462 in Toledo.

Conversely, $75,000 in Toledo equals $88,636 in Huntsville.

Living in Huntsville vs Toledo

Housing Costs

Huntsville's housing index of 79 is higher Toledo's 55, translating to median home prices of $260,000 vs $128,000. The $132,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,580 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,200/mo in Huntsville compared to $825/mo in Toledo, a monthly difference of $375.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Huntsville and 98 in Toledo. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Huntsville vs $466/month in Toledo. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 91 in Huntsville and 92 in Toledo. Monthly utility bills average approximately $364 in Huntsville vs $368 in Toledo. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 93 in Huntsville and 84 in Toledo. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 9-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $56,098 in Huntsville and $42,200 in Toledo. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $61,646 and $54,805 respectively. Huntsville residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,309/month to housing in Huntsville vs $985/month in Toledo. In Huntsville, median rent of $1,200/mo fits within this budget. In Toledo, median rent of $825/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 24 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Toledo is 18.2% more affordable overall with an index of 77 vs 91.
A $75,000 salary in Huntsville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $63,462 in Toledo, based on the cost of living difference.
Huntsville's housing index is 79 with median homes at $260,000, while Toledo's is 55 with median homes at $128,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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