City Comparison

Mobile vs Peoria

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Mobile

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

Peoria

Illinois
76
Very Affordable
$164,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$58,700
Median Income

The Verdict

10.5%

Peoria is 10.5% less expensive than Mobile overall. A household earning $75,000 in Mobile would need approximately $67,857 in Peoria to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
60
Mobile
42
Peoria
Groceries
98
Mobile
97
Peoria
Utilities
108
Mobile
103
Peoria
Transportation
90
Mobile
108
Peoria
Healthcare
100
Mobile
107
Peoria

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Mobile has the same purchasing power as $67,857 in Peoria.

Conversely, $75,000 in Peoria equals $82,895 in Mobile.

Living in Mobile vs Peoria

Housing Costs

Mobile's housing index of 60 is higher Peoria's 42, translating to median home prices of $193,000 vs $164,000. The $29,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,884 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $975/mo in Mobile compared to $1,000/mo in Peoria, a monthly difference of $25.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 98 in Mobile and 97 in Peoria. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Mobile vs $461/month in Peoria. 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 108 in Mobile and 103 in Peoria. Monthly utility bills average approximately $432 in Mobile vs $412 in Peoria. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 100 in Mobile and 107 in Peoria. 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 $58,700 in Peoria. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $63,810 and $77,237 respectively. Peoria 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 $1,370/month in Peoria. In Mobile, median rent of $975/mo fits within this budget. In Peoria, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 18 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Peoria is 10.5% more affordable overall with an index of 76 vs 84.
A $75,000 salary in Mobile has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $67,857 in Peoria, based on the cost of living difference.
Mobile's housing index is 60 with median homes at $193,000, while Peoria's is 42 with median homes at $164,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

Moving PlannersFinance BooksBudget Planners

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases