Phenix City, AL vs Paragould, AR: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Paragould, AR has a modeled overall cost index 1.2% lower than Phenix City, AL.

Phenix City, AL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,030 / month
Paragould, AR · modeled 2BR rent
$930 / 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 Phenix City, AL and Paragould, AR 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: $262/month in Paragould, AR

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $146,860 in Paragould, AR

Regional cost estimates: Phenix City, AL uses Columbus, GA. Paragould, AR uses Memphis, TN. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 1.2%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$262
Savings
Annual Impact
$3.1K
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.

Phenix City, AL

Population:38K
Cost Index:
83.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$175K

Paragould, AR

Population:31K
Cost Index:
82.8
100 = national average
Typical Home:$184K

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Phenix City, AL

The Heart of Dixie

38K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Alabama, this city has a population of 38K residents.

Paragould, AR

The Natural State

31K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Arkansas, this city has a population of 31K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Phenix City, AL vs Paragould, AR

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.

Transportation
↓ 14.2%
Phenix City, AL
$1,586
Paragould, AR
$1,361
Difference
$225
less
Other
↑ 6.4%
Phenix City, AL
$1,723
Paragould, AR
$1,833
Difference
$110
more
Housing
↓ 4.1%
Phenix City, AL
$1,895
Paragould, AR
$1,818
Difference
$77.14
less
All Utilities
↓ 9.4%
Phenix City, AL
$652
Paragould, AR
$591
Difference
$61.01
less
Groceries
↓ 2.1%
Phenix City, AL
$1,070
Paragould, AR
$1,048
Difference
$22.39
less
Healthcare
↑ 2.4%
Phenix City, AL
$574
Paragould, AR
$587
Difference
$13.77
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$820
To$670
↓ $150
1 Bed
From$885
To$790
↓ $95.00
2 Bed
From$1,030
To$930
↓ $100
3 Bed
From$1,350
To$1,290
↓ $60.00
Phenix City, ALZIP-level data

1BR range: $850–$920/mo

Paragould, ARZIP-level data

1BR range: $790–$790/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 Phenix City, AL
$7,238
Monthly in Paragould, AR
$262
Difference

Home Values

Phenix City
Paragould
$175K
Median Value
$184K
↑ +2%
YoY Change
↓ -0.2%
↑ +29.1%
5-Year Change
↑ +26.6%
$164K - $186K
Price Range
$184K

Homes in Paragould are 5% more expensive than Phenix City

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $1.6K
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$130
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
1.0%
Rate difference

Phenix 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

Paragould, AR

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Arkansas State Tax
Effective: 6.0%
$9.0K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.7%
$46.0K
Take-Home Pay
$8,664/month
$104.0K

Additional Tax Information

Phenix City, AL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.1%
Property Tax:0.4%

Paragould, AR Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.4%
Property Tax:0.6%

💡 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

Phenix City
Paragould
49 Good
Air Quality
55 Moderate
52.7%
Good Air Days
34.4%
82 Moderate
Climate Risk
99 High
None
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🫨
▲+2.8°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.8°F
64 days
Heat Days >95°F
54 days
▲+2.8°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.8°F
64 days
Heat Days >95°F
54 days

Before moving from Phenix City, AL to Paragould, AR

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Paragould, AR for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Phenix City, 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 Phenix City to Paragould moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Phenix City, AL vs Paragould, AR

How do the cost estimates for Phenix City, AL and Paragould, AR compare?

Paragould, AR has a modeled overall cost index 1.2% lower than Phenix City, 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 Phenix City, AL, the model estimates $146,860 in Paragould, AR. 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 Phenix City, AL and Paragould, AR?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,030/month in Phenix City, AL and $930/month in Paragould, AR. 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 Arkansas on TaxTakeHome.com

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