Decatur, AL vs Phenix City, AL

Decatur, AL and Phenix City, AL have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.9% difference in their overall index. Decatur scores 73 while Phenix City 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 Decatur is $861/month compared to $926/month in Phenix City — a 7% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Decatur has cheaper rent, Phenix City actually has lower median home values ($160,000 vs $190,500).

Median household income in Decatur is $59,831 compared to $49,715 in Phenix City (+20.3%). 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 Decatur spend roughly 17.3% of their income on rent, less than the 22.4% in Phenix City.

Climate-wise, Phenix City is notably warmer with an average of 66.6°F compared to 61.4°F in Decatur. Decatur receives more rainfall at 49.5" per year compared to 48.8" in Phenix City.