Retirement Lists

Cost of Living in Fairhope, Alabama

Downtown Fairhope,Alabama in April 2021
Photo by KevinmageeMagee,Mississippi via Wikimedia, CC-BY-SA-4.0

Fairhope costs

A coastal budget needs cooling, insurance, storm work, and the actual home visible

The catalog's 2024 ACS gross-rent anchors are $877 for one bedroom and $1,413 for two bedrooms, with a modeled local monthly estimate of $2,837. Add utilities, air conditioning, dehumidification, wind and flood insurance, roof and window work, vehicle costs, parking, groceries, prescriptions, care, and storm reserves.

Request recent utility history, maintenance records, insurance terms, drainage information, roof and window age, shutters, power plans, internet, parking, and the cost of a typical hospital and grocery loop. A bayfront or low-lying address may change insurance and recovery costs.

Planning a monthly budget

A local monthly estimate of $2,837 gives you the starting point, with transportation taking the largest share.

Housing
$877
Utilities (in rent)
$257
Food
$460/mo
Transportation
$1,064/mo
Healthcare
$436

Utilities are included in housing so they are not added twice. The separate Utilities row is a reference estimate.

How the total can change

A traveler style stay, a couple household, and long term rent answer different planning questions.

Comfortable Living
$3,938

Good

Cost of Living for Couple
$4,586

Good

Typical 1BR Rent
$877

Excellent

Everyday expenses

Dining, transportation, taxes, and car needs can change how the monthly budget feels.

Dining Out
$230/mo

Excellent

Need for a Car
Required
Property Taxes
Low

Good

Overall Feel
Good
Residents 65+ Below Poverty Level
6.9%
65+ Householder — Renter Occupied
14.5%
65+ Households With High Housing Costs
25.6%
Median Household Income, Householder 65+
$73,431

Could Fairhope fit your monthly retirement budget?

Compare your monthly budget with a city estimate. Add your expected housing amount when you have a more useful number.

Housing

Enter your expected rent and required housing charges, or leave this blank to use the current renter amount.

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Starting renter estimates

Use these broad monthly estimates as a starting point, then replace them with costs you know.

One person
$2,837 per month
Two people
$4,586 per month

One-person estimate breakdown

Housing
$877
Food
$460
Transportation
$1,064
Healthcare
$436

Taxes, debt, insurance, out-of-pocket care, travel, and one-time moving costs may not be included.

Fairhope in everyday life

Could Fairhope work for you?

What may work well

  • The catalog supplies clear planning rent anchors for the city.
  • Thomas Hospital, city utilities, parks, senior services, and downtown provide identifiable household resources.

What to think about

  • Cooling, insurance, storm work, vehicle use, care, traffic, and maintenance can change the total substantially.
  • A waterfront or low-lying home may add exposure, drainage, power, and recovery costs.

Price a Fairhope household

  1. Compare several addresses

    Keep housing, cooling, utilities, insurance, roof, windows, drainage, trees, vehicle, parking, and service distance visible.

  2. Map recurring care

    Price Thomas Hospital, primary care, pharmacy, groceries, senior services, regional referrals, fuel, and parking.

  3. Reserve for storms

    Keep room for wind and flood insurance, shutters, roof, windows, drainage, mold, power, cooling, repairs, and a ride after a storm.

Questions retirees ask

Are $877 and $1,413 the full Fairhope budget?

No. They are the catalog's 2024 ACS one-bedroom and two-bedroom gross-rent anchors. Add cooling, utilities, insurance, maintenance, vehicles, care, groceries, and storm reserves.

Why do Fairhope homes have different budgets?

Bay exposure, drainage, insurance, cooling, roof and windows, parking, traffic, utilities, maintenance, vehicle use, and care distance vary by address.

Fairhope affordability depends on the actual home, cooling and insurance plan, storm resilience, traffic, transport, care, and the services used each week.

Sources

The budget value gives a starting point for everyday spending. Housing, healthcare, safety, and climate can change what feels comfortable for a household.

Housing mix, exchange rates, healthcare needs, car ownership, and travel style can move a real monthly budget materially.

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How this city research is made

Retirement Lists uses documented public sources and methods to research, review, and correct city information. Read our Editorial Policy.