Bessemer, AL vs Fairfield, AL

Bessemer, AL and Fairfield, AL have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2% difference in their overall index. Bessemer scores 71 while Fairfield scores 72 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Bessemer is $922/month compared to $997/month in Fairfield — a 8% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Bessemer has cheaper rent, Fairfield actually has lower median home values ($120,100 vs $129,800).

Median household income in Bessemer is $37,844 compared to $48,492 in Fairfield (-22%). While Fairfield is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Bessemer spend roughly 29.2% of their income on rent, more than the 24.7% in Fairfield.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (64.4°F vs 63.9°F). Fairfield receives more rainfall at 56.6" per year compared to 56.2" in Bessemer.