City Comparison

Mobile vs Nampa

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Mobile

Alabama
84
Very Affordable
$193,000
Median Home
$975/mo
Median Rent
$53,600
Median Income

Nampa

Idaho
105
Average
$371,000
Median Home
$1,500/mo
Median Rent
$74,300
Median Income

The Verdict

20.0%

Mobile is 20.0% less expensive than Nampa overall. A household earning $75,000 in Mobile would need approximately $93,750 in Nampa to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
60
Mobile
104
Nampa
Groceries
98
Mobile
105
Nampa
Utilities
108
Mobile
83
Nampa
Transportation
90
Mobile
113
Nampa
Healthcare
100
Mobile
102
Nampa

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Mobile has the same purchasing power as $93,750 in Nampa.

Conversely, $75,000 in Nampa equals $60,000 in Mobile.

Living in Mobile vs Nampa

Housing Costs

Mobile's housing index of 60 is lower Nampa's 104, translating to median home prices of $193,000 vs $371,000. The $178,000 difference in home prices means roughly $11,568 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $975/mo in Mobile compared to $1,500/mo in Nampa, a monthly difference of $525.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 98 in Mobile and 105 in Nampa. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Mobile vs $499/month in Nampa. Mobile offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 108 in Mobile and 83 in Nampa. Monthly utility bills average approximately $432 in Mobile vs $332 in Nampa. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 100 in Mobile and 102 in Nampa. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $53,600 in Mobile and $74,300 in Nampa. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $63,810 and $70,762 respectively. Nampa residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,251/month to housing in Mobile vs $1,734/month in Nampa. In Mobile, median rent of $975/mo fits within this budget. In Nampa, median rent of $1,500/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 44 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Mobile is 20.0% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 105.
A $75,000 salary in Mobile has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $93,750 in Nampa, based on the cost of living difference.
Mobile's housing index is 60 with median homes at $193,000, while Nampa's is 104 with median homes at $371,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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