City comparison
Eugene, OR vs Huntsville, AL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Eugene, OR are 9.1% higher than in Huntsville, AL. Someone earning $100,000 in Huntsville, AL would need about $109,100 in Eugene, OR to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,286 a month in Eugene, OR versus $1,136 in Huntsville, AL. On $100,000, that's 22% of take-home pay in Eugene, OR and 18% in Huntsville, AL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,185 a year higher in Eugene, OR than in Huntsville, AL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +4.1% moving from Eugene, OR to Huntsville, AL ($106,437 → $110,847), while prices change by −8.4%. Net effect of the transfer: +13.6% in real buying power.
- Eugene, OR: price level 101.6 (about average)
- Huntsville, AL: price level 93.1 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Eugene, OR | Huntsville, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.6 | 93.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $91,635 in Huntsville | $109,128 in Eugene |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,286/mo | $1,136/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $71,260 | $74,445 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $7,920 (OR) | $4,735 (AL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,680 | $51,740 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN |
Rent areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR MSA and Huntsville, AL MSA. Metro areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR and Huntsville, AL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Eugene | Huntsville |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 98.3 | 77.9 |
| Goods | 105.3 | 96.4 |
| Utilities | 102.5 | 83.9 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 96.7 |
| Overall | 101.6 | 93.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Eugene, OR → Huntsville, AL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +9.1%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$3,185/yr.
97 Strong offer
Huntsville, AL → Eugene, OR
Same pay buys less
Buying power −8.4%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$3,185/yr.
43 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Eugene, OR is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Huntsville, AL is in Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN. The last column shows what a transfer from Eugene, OR to Huntsville, AL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Eugene, OR | Huntsville, AL | Real change, Eugene → Huntsville |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $64,279 | +13.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $77,772 | +13.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $93,216 | +13.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $110,847 | +13.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $130,987 | +13.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Eugene, OR | Huntsville, AL | Huntsville pay in Eugene dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $64,260 | $62,250 | $67,932 (+5.7%) |
| Software Developers | $121,050 | $128,080 | $139,772 (+15.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,930 | $79,220 | $86,452 (+8.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $113,720 | $77,090 | $84,127 (−26.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.