Anniston, AL vs Decatur, AL

Anniston is moderately more affordable than Decatur, with a 10.4% lower cost of living index. Anniston scores 65 compared to 73 for Decatur, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Decatur can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Anniston is $777/month compared to $861/month in Decatur — a 10% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Anniston is more affordable at $141,600 median vs $190,500.

Median household income in Anniston is $44,806 compared to $59,831 in Decatur (-25.1%). While Decatur is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Anniston spend roughly 20.8% of their income on rent, more than the 17.3% in Decatur.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (63.1°F vs 61.4°F). Anniston receives more rainfall at 52.1" per year compared to 49.5" in Decatur.