Rocky Mount, NC vs Phenix City, AL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Phenix City, AL has a modeled overall cost index 9.6% lower than Rocky Mount, NC.

Rocky Mount, NC · modeled 2BR rent: $1,160 / month
Phenix City, AL · modeled 2BR rent: $1,030 / 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 Rocky Mount, NC and Phenix 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

Current salary in Rocky Mount, NC

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $470/month in Phenix City, AL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $144,356 in Phenix City, AL

Regional cost estimates: Rocky Mount, NC uses Raleigh, NC. Phenix City, AL uses Columbus, GA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 9.6%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$470

Savings

Annual Impact

$5.6K

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.

Rocky Mount, NC

Population:54K

Cost Index:

92.7

100 = national average

Typical Home:$159K

Phenix City, AL

Population:38K

Cost Index:

83.8

100 = national average

Typical Home:$175K

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Rocky Mount, NC

The Tar Heel State

54K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in North Carolina, this city has a population of 54K residents.

Phenix City, AL

The Heart of Dixie

38K

Population

State Tax

Yes

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

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Rocky Mount, NC vs Phenix 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.

Category	Rocky Mount, NC	Phenix City, AL	Difference	Change
Housing	$2,262/mo	$1,776/mo	↓ $485less	21.5%
Transportation	$1,307/mo	$1,486/mo	↑ $179more	13.7%
Other	$1,738/mo	$1,615/mo	↓ $123less	7.1%
Healthcare	$626/mo	$538/mo	↓ $88.08less	14.1%
All Utilities	$569/mo	$611/mo	↑ $42.38more	7.4%
Groceries	$999/mo	$1,003/mo	↑ $4.18more	0.4%

Housing

↓ 21.5%

Rocky Mount, NC

$2,262

Phenix City, AL

$1,776

Difference

$485

less

Transportation

↑ 13.7%

Rocky Mount, NC

$1,307

Phenix City, AL

$1,486

Difference

$179

Other

↓ 7.1%

Rocky Mount, NC

$1,738

Phenix City, AL

$1,615

Difference

$123

less

Healthcare

↓ 14.1%

Rocky Mount, NC

$626

Phenix City, AL

$538

Difference

$88.08

less

All Utilities

↑ 7.4%

Rocky Mount, NC

$569

Phenix City, AL

$611

Difference

$42.38

Groceries

↑ 0.4%

Rocky Mount, NC

$999

Phenix City, AL

$1,003

Difference

$4.18

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$925

To$820

↓ $105

1 Bed

From$930

To$885

↓ $45.00

2 Bed

From$1,160

To$1,030

↓ $130

3 Bed

From$1,565

To$1,350

↓ $215

Rocky Mount, NCZIP-level data

1BR range: $890–$970/mo

Phenix City, ALZIP-level data

1BR range: $850–$920/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 Rocky Mount, NC

$7,030

Monthly in Phenix City, AL

$470

Difference

Home Values

Rocky Mount

Phenix City

$159K

Median Value

$175K

↓ -4.1%

YoY Change

↑ +2%

↑ +45.3%

5-Year Change

↑ +29.1%

$117K - $201K

Price Range

$164K - $186K

Homes in Phenix City are 10% more expensive than Rocky Mount

Calculate payment - Rocky Mount Calculate payment - Phenix City

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↓ $335

More taxes

Monthly Difference

$27.92

Less take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.2%

Rate difference

Rocky Mount, 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

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

Additional Tax Information

Rocky Mount, NC Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.1%

Property Tax:0.8%

Phenix 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

Rocky Mount

Phenix City

46 Good

Air Quality

49 Good

61.7%

Good Air Days

52.7%

96 High

Climate Risk

82 Moderate

🌊🌡🌪

Top Hazards

None

▲+2.8°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.8°F

31 days

Heat Days >95°F

64 days

▲+2.8°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.8°F

31 days

Heat Days >95°F

64 days

Before moving from Rocky Mount, NC to Phenix City, AL

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

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Rocky Mount, NC vs Phenix City, AL

How do the cost estimates for Rocky Mount, NC and Phenix City, AL compare?

Phenix City, AL has a modeled overall cost index 9.6% lower than Rocky Mount, NC. 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 Rocky Mount, NC, the model estimates $144,356 in Phenix 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 Rocky Mount, NC and Phenix City, AL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,160/month in Rocky Mount, NC and $1,030/month in Phenix 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 North Carolina and Alabama on TaxTakeHome.com