Palatka, FL vs Bay Minette, AL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Bay Minette, AL has a modeled overall cost index 5.4% lower than Palatka, FL.

Palatka, FL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,200 / month
Bay Minette, AL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,120 / 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 Palatka, FL and Bay Minette, 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

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $432/month in Bay Minette, AL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $144,821 in Bay Minette, AL

Regional cost estimates: Palatka, FL uses Jacksonville, FL. Bay Minette, AL uses Montgomery, AL. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 5.4%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$432
Savings
Annual Impact
$5.2K
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.

Palatka, FL

Population:11K
Cost Index:
86.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$197K

Bay Minette, AL

Population:8K
Cost Index:
81.7
100 = national average
Typical Home:$205K

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Palatka, FL

The Sunshine State

11K
Population
State Tax
No Income Tax

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

💡 Advantage: Florida has no state income tax!

Bay Minette, AL

The Heart of Dixie

8K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Alabama, this city has a population of 8K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Palatka, FL vs Bay Minette, 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
↓ 12.6%
Palatka, FL
$2,084
Bay Minette, AL
$1,822
Difference
$262
less
Healthcare
↓ 7.7%
Palatka, FL
$624
Bay Minette, AL
$576
Difference
$48.04
less
Groceries
↓ 3.7%
Palatka, FL
$1,115
Bay Minette, AL
$1,074
Difference
$41.39
less
Other
↓ 1.8%
Palatka, FL
$1,702
Bay Minette, AL
$1,672
Difference
$30.77
less
Transportation
↓ 2.0%
Palatka, FL
$1,346
Bay Minette, AL
$1,319
Difference
$27.12
less
All Utilities
↓ 3.5%
Palatka, FL
$628
Bay Minette, AL
$606
Difference
$22.22
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$910
To$880
↓ $30.00
1 Bed
From$910
To$940
↑ $30.00
2 Bed
From$1,200
To$1,120
↓ $80.00
3 Bed
From$1,510
To$1,400
↓ $110
Palatka, FLZIP-level data

1BR range: $910–$910/mo

Bay Minette, ALZIP-level data

1BR range: $940–$940/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 Palatka, FL
$7,068
Monthly in Bay Minette, AL
$432
Difference

Home Values

Palatka
Bay Minette
$197K
Median Value
$205K
↓ -0.3%
YoY Change
↓ -2.9%
↑ +30.8%
5-Year Change
↑ +24.6%

Homes in Bay Minette are 4% more expensive than Palatka

Calculate payment - PalatkaCalculate payment - Bay Minette

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

Palatka, 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

Bay Minette, 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

Palatka, FL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.2%
Property Tax:0.8%

Bay Minette, 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

Palatka
Bay Minette
50 Good
Air Quality
42 Good
51.9%
Good Air Days
69%
97 High
Climate Risk
92 Moderate
🌊🌅🌀
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+2.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.6°F
36 days
Heat Days >95°F
62 days
▲+2.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.6°F
36 days
Heat Days >95°F
62 days

Before moving from Palatka, FL to Bay Minette, 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 Bay Minette, AL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Palatka, 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 Palatka to Bay Minette moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Palatka, FL vs Bay Minette, AL

How do the cost estimates for Palatka, FL and Bay Minette, AL compare?

Bay Minette, AL has a modeled overall cost index 5.4% lower than Palatka, 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 Palatka, FL, the model estimates $144,821 in Bay Minette, 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 Palatka, FL and Bay Minette, AL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,200/month in Palatka, FL and $1,120/month in Bay Minette, 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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