2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Gulf Shores, AL vs Tuscaloosa, AL

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Tuscaloosa or is it cheaper to live in Gulf Shores?
- Tuscaloosa is 6.2% less expensive than Gulf Shores.

Which city has more affordable housing, Tuscaloosa or Gulf Shores?
- Tuscaloosa housing costs are 45.7% less expensive than Gulf Shores housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Gulf Shores or is Health Care more affordable in Tuscaloosa.
- Health related expenses are 0.7% less in Tuscaloosa.
 Gulf Shores, ALTuscaloosa, ALUnited States
 Overall  Unlock88.6100
 Food & Groceries100.0  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock114.7100
 Housing116.2  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$192,400$338,100
 Utilities98  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock78.8100
 Miscellaneous84.4  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Gulf Shores    6 Reviews

Over 4 years ago

Owned a place there for 20 years and spend a few weeks each season there. Heading back in a few weeks! Lows: Spotty internet for work. Saturday traffic. Hurricanes.  More

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I know that there are a few people out there that would just as soon throw rotten tomatoes at me for saying what I’m about to say, but I hate, hate, HATE living in Gulf  More

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Over 14 years ago

Gulf Shores offers many sunny days, compared to the rest of Baldwin County.  More

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Reviews for Tuscaloosa    9 Reviews

This is the deal with Tuscaloosa. If you have strong family support that will keep you on track, you may be okay. Alabama has too many broken, uneducated, poor  More

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We've lived in Tuscaloosa for several years now. It's a diverse, friendly college town -- home of the University of Alabama and it's lovely campus -- that is relatively  More

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Tuscaloosa used to have some character. We had a decent live music scene, an up and coming artist community, affordable housing, and there were even several places for  More

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