Lake City, FL vs Pell City, AL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Pell City, AL has a modeled overall cost index 4.7% lower than Lake City, FL.

Lake City, FL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,240 / month
Pell City, AL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,140 / 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 Lake City, FL and Pell City, AL 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

$
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Estimated savings: $398/month in Pell City, AL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $145,230 in Pell City, AL

Regional cost estimates: Lake City, FL uses Jacksonville, FL. Pell City, AL uses Birmingham, AL. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 4.7%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$398
Savings
Annual Impact
$4.8K
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.

Lake City, FL

Population:13K
Cost Index:
86.5
100 = national average
Typical Home:$212K

Pell City, AL

Population:14K
Cost Index:
82.5
100 = national average
Typical Home:$218K

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Lake City, FL

The Sunshine State

13K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

Located in Florida, this city has a population of 13K residents.

💡 Advantage: Florida has no state income tax!

Pell City, AL

The Heart of Dixie

14K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Alabama, this city has a population of 14K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Lake City, FL vs Pell City, AL

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.

Housing
↓ 10.3%
Lake City, FL
$2,085
Pell City, AL
$1,869
Difference
$216
less
Healthcare
↓ 8.4%
Lake City, FL
$623
Pell City, AL
$571
Difference
$52.66
less
Groceries
↓ 4.5%
Lake City, FL
$1,114
Pell City, AL
$1,064
Difference
$50.05
less
Transportation
↓ 3.6%
Lake City, FL
$1,347
Pell City, AL
$1,298
Difference
$48.42
less
All Utilities
↓ 4.3%
Lake City, FL
$627
Pell City, AL
$600
Difference
$27.10
less
Other
↓ 0.2%
Lake City, FL
$1,703
Pell City, AL
$1,700
Difference
$3.52
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$930
To$920
↓ $10.00
1 Bed
From$970
To$1,040
↑ $70.00
2 Bed
From$1,240
To$1,140
↓ $100
3 Bed
From$1,490
To$1,430
↓ $60.00
Lake City, FLZIP-level data

1BR range: $970–$970/mo

Pell City, ALZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,040–$1,040/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 Lake City, FL
$7,102
Monthly in Pell City, AL
$398
Difference

Home Values

Lake City
Pell City
$212K
Median Value
$218K
↓ -2.1%
YoY Change
↑ +1.7%
↑ +36.4%
5-Year Change
↑ +16.9%

Homes in Pell City are 3% more expensive than Lake City

Calculate payment - Lake CityCalculate payment - Pell City

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $7.5K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$622
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
5.0%
Rate difference

Lake City, FL

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Florida State Tax
No state income tax
$0
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 24.7%
$37.0K
Take-Home Pay
$9,416/month
$113.0K

Pell City, 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

Additional Tax Information

Lake City, FL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.2%
Property Tax:0.8%

Pell City, AL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.1%
Property Tax:0.4%

💡 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

Lake City
Pell City
50 Good
Air Quality
57 Moderate
51.9%
Good Air Days
26%
97 High
Climate Risk
98 High
🌊🌅🌀
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+2.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.5°F
36 days
Heat Days >95°F
41 days
▲+2.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.5°F
36 days
Heat Days >95°F
41 days

Before moving from Lake City, FL to Pell City, AL

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Pell City, AL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Lake City, FL. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Lake City to Pell City moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Pell City, AL by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Lake City, FL vs Pell City, AL

How do the cost estimates for Lake City, FL and Pell City, AL compare?

Pell City, AL has a modeled overall cost index 4.7% lower than Lake City, FL. 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 Lake City, FL, the model estimates $145,230 in Pell City, AL. 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 Lake City, FL and Pell City, AL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,240/month in Lake City, FL and $1,140/month in Pell City, AL. 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 Florida and Alabama on TaxTakeHome.com

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