Winchester, KY vs Muscle Shoals, AL: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Muscle Shoals, AL has a modeled overall cost index 1.3% lower than Winchester, KY.

Winchester, KY · modeled 2BR rent
$1,070 / month
Muscle Shoals, AL · modeled 2BR rent
$1,170 / 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 Winchester, KY and Muscle Shoals, 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: $117/month in Muscle Shoals, AL

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $148,593 in Muscle Shoals, AL

Regional cost estimates: Winchester, KY uses Lexington, KY. Muscle Shoals, AL uses Birmingham, AL. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 1.3%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$117
Savings
Annual Impact
$1.4K
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.

Winchester, KY

Population:19K
Cost Index:
87.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$249K

Muscle Shoals, AL

Population:17K
Cost Index:
86.2
100 = national average
Typical Home:$248K

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Winchester, KY

The Bluegrass State

19K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Kentucky, this city has a population of 19K residents.

Muscle Shoals, AL

The Heart of Dixie

17K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Alabama, this city has a population of 17K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Winchester, KY vs Muscle Shoals, 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
↓ 13.2%
Winchester, KY
$2,255
Muscle Shoals, AL
$1,957
Difference
$299
less
All Utilities
↑ 19.6%
Winchester, KY
$514
Muscle Shoals, AL
$614
Difference
$101
more
Transportation
↑ 4.3%
Winchester, KY
$1,303
Muscle Shoals, AL
$1,359
Difference
$56.33
more
Groceries
↑ 2.7%
Winchester, KY
$1,061
Muscle Shoals, AL
$1,090
Difference
$28.83
more
Healthcare
↓ 4.2%
Winchester, KY
$610
Muscle Shoals, AL
$584
Difference
$25.65
less
Other
↑ 1.2%
Winchester, KY
$1,758
Muscle Shoals, AL
$1,779
Difference
$21.15
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$740
To$820
↑ $80.00
1 Bed
From$910
To$910
→ $0
2 Bed
From$1,070
To$1,170
↑ $100
3 Bed
From$1,470
To$1,450
↓ $20.00
Winchester, KYZIP-level data

1BR range: $910–$910/mo

Muscle Shoals, ALZIP-level data

1BR range: $910–$910/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 Winchester, KY
$7,383
Monthly in Muscle Shoals, AL
$117
Difference

Home Values

Winchester
Muscle Shoals
$249K
Median Value
$248K
↑ +4.1%
YoY Change
↑ +1.8%
↑ +47.1%
5-Year Change
↑ +42.9%

Homes in Muscle Shoals are 1% less expensive than Winchester

Calculate payment - WinchesterCalculate payment - Muscle Shoals

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $40.00
Per year
Monthly Difference
$3.33
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.0%
Rate difference

Winchester, KY

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Kentucky State Tax
Effective: 5.0%
$7.5K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.7%
$44.5K
Take-Home Pay
$8,791/month
$105.5K

Muscle Shoals, 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

Winchester, KY Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.0%
Property Tax:0.9%

Muscle Shoals, 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

Winchester
Muscle Shoals
41 Good
Air Quality
57 Moderate
79.2%
Good Air Days
26%
92 Moderate
Climate Risk
98 High
🌪💨
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.5°F
21 days
Heat Days >95°F
41 days
▲+3.0°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.5°F
21 days
Heat Days >95°F
41 days

Before moving from Winchester, KY to Muscle Shoals, 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 Muscle Shoals, AL for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Winchester, KY. 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 Winchester to Muscle Shoals moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

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

Frequently Asked Questions: Winchester, KY vs Muscle Shoals, AL

How do the cost estimates for Winchester, KY and Muscle Shoals, AL compare?

Muscle Shoals, AL has a modeled overall cost index 1.3% lower than Winchester, KY. 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 Winchester, KY, the model estimates $148,593 in Muscle Shoals, 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 Winchester, KY and Muscle Shoals, AL?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,070/month in Winchester, KY and $1,170/month in Muscle Shoals, 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 Kentucky and Alabama on TaxTakeHome.com

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