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Birmingham, AL

Cost of living in St. Clair County, AL

Part of the Birmingham Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$3,305/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 92,903 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $1,144 35%
Federal tax $577 17%
Healthcare $480 15%
Transport $320 10%
Groceries $306 9%
Energy $237 7%
State tax $186 6%
Water $55 2%

Rent in St. Clair County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$998
per month
1 bedroom
$1,144
per month
2 bedroom
$1,267
per month
3 bedroom
$1,583
per month
4 bedroom
$1,791
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in St. Clair County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$78,993
per year
Individual earnings
$45,348
per year
Per capita
$34,937
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in St. Clair County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$218,500
Annual property tax
$666

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in St. Clair County

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$179
per month · 15.6¢/kWh
Natural gas
$58
per month
Annual total
$2,844
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in St. Clair County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
7.3%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in St. Clair County

State and local tax rates for Alabama.

State income tax
5.0%
Top marginal rate
State sales tax
4.0%
Combined sales tax
9.2%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in St. Clair County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
31.2 min
Drive alone
82.3%
Public transit
0.0%
Work from home
9.8%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for St. Clair County

What it costs to live in St. Clair County each month.

Single person
$3,305
per month
  • Rent $1,144
  • Energy $237
  • Water $55
  • Groceries $306
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $577
  • State tax $186
Couple
$4,696
per month
  • Rent $1,267
  • Energy $284
  • Water $65
  • Groceries $507
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $963
  • State tax $326
Family
$7,142
per month
  • Rent $1,583
  • Energy $356
  • Water $75
  • Groceries $769
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $963
  • State tax $326

Frequently asked questions about St. Clair County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in St. Clair County?

In St. Clair County, AL, a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,144 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,267 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,583 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in St. Clair County?

In St. Clair County, AL, the average household income is $78,993 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $45,348 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in St. Clair County?

The estimated cost of living in St. Clair County, AL is approximately $3,305 per month for a single person, $4,696 for a couple, $7,142 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in St. Clair County?

The combined sales tax rate in St. Clair County, AL is 9.24%, which includes the Alabama state rate of 4.00% plus an average local rate of 5.24%.

Is St. Clair County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in St. Clair County, AL would need approximately $3,305 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $78,993 per year ($6,583 per month). St. Clair County has a moderate cost of living relative to local earnings.

How much does healthcare cost in St. Clair County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in St. Clair County, AL is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 7.3% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in St. Clair County?

The average home value in St. Clair County, AL is $218,500, with average annual property taxes of $666, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does St. Clair County compare to other areas?

You can compare St. Clair County, AL with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. St. Clair County is in the Birmingham, AL metro area.

Other counties in Alabama

Browse the full list of counties in Alabama, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Alabama

Compare St. Clair County with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources