Orange Beach, AL vs Summerfield, NC: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Summerfield, NC has a modeled overall cost index 2.1% higher than Orange Beach, AL.

Orange Beach, AL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,470 / month
Summerfield, NC · modeled 2BR rent
$1,470 / 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 Orange Beach, AL and Summerfield, NC 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

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $162/month in Summerfield, NC

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $151,944 in Summerfield, NC

Regional cost estimates: Orange Beach, AL uses New Orleans, LA. Summerfield, NC uses Winston-Salem, NC. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 2.1%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$162
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$1.9K
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.

Orange Beach, AL

Population:9K
Cost Index:
81.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$665K

Summerfield, NC

Population:11K
Cost Index:
83.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$502K

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Orange Beach, AL

The Heart of Dixie

9K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Alabama, this city has a population of 9K residents.

Summerfield, NC

The Tar Heel State

11K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in North Carolina, this city has a population of 11K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Orange Beach, AL vs Summerfield, NC

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.

Healthcare
↑ 33.9%
Orange Beach, AL
$520
Summerfield, NC
$696
Difference
$176
more
Other
↓ 8.4%
Orange Beach, AL
$1,922
Summerfield, NC
$1,761
Difference
$162
less
Transportation
↑ 6.5%
Orange Beach, AL
$1,263
Summerfield, NC
$1,345
Difference
$81.90
more
All Utilities
↑ 12.0%
Orange Beach, AL
$537
Summerfield, NC
$602
Difference
$64.49
more
Groceries
↑ 3.9%
Orange Beach, AL
$1,070
Summerfield, NC
$1,112
Difference
$41.24
more
Housing
↓ 1.9%
Orange Beach, AL
$2,187
Summerfield, NC
$2,146
Difference
$40.59
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,200
To$1,240
↑ $40.00
1 Bed
From$1,310
To$1,310
→ $0
2 Bed
From$1,470
To$1,470
→ $0
3 Bed
From$1,850
To$1,870
↑ $20.00
Orange Beach, ALZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,310–$1,310/mo

Summerfield, NCZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,310–$1,310/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 Orange Beach, AL
$7,662
Monthly in Summerfield, NC
$162
Difference

Home Values

Orange Beach
Summerfield
$665K
Median Value
$502K
↓ -1.8%
YoY Change
↑ +2.2%
↑ +29.5%
5-Year Change
↑ +38.1%

Homes in Summerfield are 24% less expensive than Orange Beach

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $335
Per year
Monthly Difference
$27.92
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.2%
Rate difference

Orange Beach, 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

Summerfield, NC

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
North Carolina State Tax
Effective: 4.8%
$7.1K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.4%
$44.1K
Take-Home Pay
$8,822/month
$105.9K

Additional Tax Information

Orange Beach, AL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.1%
Property Tax:0.4%

Summerfield, NC Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.1%
Property Tax:0.8%

💡 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

Orange Beach
Summerfield
41 Good
Air Quality
47 Good
70.2%
Good Air Days
57.4%
98 High
Climate Risk
92 Moderate
🌊🌀🌡
Top Hazards
🌊🌪💨
▲+2.2°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.8°F
46 days
Heat Days >95°F
30 days
▲+2.2°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.8°F
46 days
Heat Days >95°F
30 days

Before moving from Orange Beach, AL to Summerfield, NC

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Summerfield, NC for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Orange Beach, AL. 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 Orange Beach to Summerfield moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Orange Beach, AL vs Summerfield, NC

How do the cost estimates for Orange Beach, AL and Summerfield, NC compare?

Summerfield, NC has a modeled overall cost index 2.1% higher than Orange Beach, 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 Orange Beach, AL, the model estimates $151,944 in Summerfield, NC. 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 Orange Beach, AL and Summerfield, NC?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,470/month in Orange Beach, AL and $1,470/month in Summerfield, NC. 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 North Carolina on TaxTakeHome.com

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