Dauphin Island, AL vs Burns, TN: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Burns, TN has a modeled overall cost index 12.7% higher than Dauphin Island, AL.

Dauphin Island, AL · modeled 2BR rent: $1,480 / month
Burns, TN · modeled 2BR rent: $1,320 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Dauphin Island, AL and Burns, TN using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Dauphin Island, AL

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $837/month in Burns, TN

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $160,039 in Burns, TN

Regional cost estimates: Dauphin Island, AL uses New Orleans, LA. Burns, TN uses Nashville, TN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↑ 12.7%

More expensive

Monthly Impact

$837

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$10.0K

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Dauphin Island, AL

Population:2K

Cost Index:

79.1

100 = national average

Typical Home:$447K

Burns, TN

Population:2K

Cost Index:

89.1

100 = national average

Typical Home:$435K

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Dauphin Island, AL

The Heart of Dixie

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Alabama, this city has a population of 2K residents.

Burns, TN

The Volunteer State

Population

State Tax

No Income Tax

Located in Tennessee, this city has a population of 2K residents.

💡 Advantage: Tennessee has no state income tax!

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Dauphin Island, AL vs Burns, TN

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Dauphin Island, AL	Burns, TN	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,178/mo	$2,536/mo	↑ $358more	16.4%
Healthcare	$525/mo	$694/mo	↑ $169more	32.1%
Other	$1,915/mo	$2,064/mo	↑ $149more	7.8%
Transportation	$1,258/mo	$1,365/mo	↑ $106more	8.5%
All Utilities	$542/mo	$593/mo	↑ $50.86more	9.4%
Groceries	$1,081/mo	$1,085/mo	↑ $3.86more	0.4%

Housing

↑ 16.4%

Dauphin Island, AL

$2,178

Burns, TN

$2,536

Difference

$358

Healthcare

↑ 32.1%

Dauphin Island, AL

$525

Burns, TN

$694

Difference

$169

Other

↑ 7.8%

Dauphin Island, AL

$1,915

Burns, TN

$2,064

Difference

$149

Transportation

↑ 8.5%

Dauphin Island, AL

$1,258

Burns, TN

$1,365

Difference

$106

All Utilities

↑ 9.4%

Dauphin Island, AL

$542

Burns, TN

$593

Difference

$50.86

Groceries

↑ 0.4%

Dauphin Island, AL

$1,081

Burns, TN

$1,085

Difference

$3.86

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$1,170

To$1,150

↓ $20.00

1 Bed

From$1,260

To$1,170

↓ $90.00

2 Bed

From$1,480

To$1,320

↓ $160

3 Bed

From$1,930

To$1,660

↓ $270

Dauphin Island, ALZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,260–$1,260/mo

Burns, TNZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,170–$1,170/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Dauphin Island, AL

$8,337

Monthly in Burns, TN

$837

Difference

Home Values

Dauphin Island

Burns

$447K

Median Value

$435K

↓ -1.5%

YoY Change

↑ +2.1%

↑ +35.2%

5-Year Change

↑ +41.9%

Homes in Burns are 3% less expensive than Dauphin Island

Calculate payment - Dauphin Island Calculate payment - Burns

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $7.5K

Per year

Monthly Difference

$622

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

5.0%

Rate difference

Dauphin Island, AL

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Alabama State Tax

Effective: 5.0%

$7.5K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 29.6%

$44.5K

Take-Home Pay

$8,794/month

$105.5K

Burns, TN

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Tennessee State Tax

No state income tax

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 24.7%

$37.0K

Take-Home Pay

$9,416/month

$113.0K

Additional Tax Information

Dauphin Island, AL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.1%

Property Tax:0.4%

Burns, TN Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.5%

Property Tax:0.7%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Dauphin Island

Burns

41 Good

Air Quality

50 Good

70.2%

Good Air Days

51.6%

98 High

Climate Risk

97 High

🌊🌀🌡

Top Hazards

🌊🫨🌪

▲+2.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.8°F

46 days

Heat Days >95°F

42 days

▲+2.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.8°F

46 days

Heat Days >95°F

42 days

Before moving from Dauphin Island, AL to Burns, TN

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Burns, TN for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Dauphin Island, AL. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Dauphin Island to Burns moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Burns, TN by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Dauphin Island, AL vs Burns, TN

How do the cost estimates for Dauphin Island, AL and Burns, TN compare?

Burns, TN has a modeled overall cost index 12.7% higher than Dauphin Island, AL. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Dauphin Island, AL, the model estimates $160,039 in Burns, TN. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Dauphin Island, AL and Burns, TN?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,480/month in Dauphin Island, AL and $1,320/month in Burns, TN. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Alabama and Tennessee on TaxTakeHome.com

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