City Comparison

Mobile vs Vienna

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Mobile

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

Vienna

Austria
88
Below Average
$395,000
Median Home
$1,275/mo
Median Rent
$48,000
Median Income

The Verdict

4.5%

Living in Mobile costs 4.5% less than Vienna. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Mobile, you would need $78,571 in Vienna.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
60
Mobile
105
Vienna
Groceries
98
Mobile
85
Vienna
Utilities
108
Mobile
98
Vienna
Transportation
90
Mobile
102
Vienna
Healthcare
100
Mobile
82
Vienna

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Mobile has the same purchasing power as $78,571 in Vienna.

Conversely, $75,000 in Vienna equals $71,591 in Mobile.

Living in Mobile vs Vienna

Housing Costs

Mobile's housing index of 60 is lower Vienna's 105, translating to median home prices of $193,000 vs $395,000. The $202,000 difference in home prices means roughly $13,128 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $975/mo in Mobile compared to $1,275/mo in Vienna, a monthly difference of $300.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 98 in Mobile and 85 in Vienna. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Mobile vs $404/month in Vienna. Vienna offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $744/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 108 in Mobile and 98 in Vienna. Monthly utility bills average approximately $432 in Mobile vs $392 in Vienna. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 100 in Mobile and 82 in Vienna. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 18-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $53,600 in Mobile and $48,000 in Vienna. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $63,810 and $54,545 respectively. Mobile residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,251/month to housing in Mobile vs $1,120/month in Vienna. In Mobile, median rent of $975/mo fits within this budget. In Vienna, median rent of $1,275/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 45 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Mobile is 4.5% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 88.
A $75,000 salary in Mobile has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $78,571 in Vienna, based on the cost of living difference.
Mobile's housing index is 60 with median homes at $193,000, while Vienna's is 105 with median homes at $395,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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