Uprootmap
Houston vs Tuscaloosa
Houston and Tuscaloosa
Photo: Editor B / Wikimedia, CC BY 2.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Tuscaloosa are above the US rate in this release, 9.4 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Houston to Tuscaloosa
In 2022-2023, 31 households filed a move from Houston to Tuscaloosa (about 53 people, average adjusted gross income $46,258). 32 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,188 in Houston and $930 in Tuscaloosa. Houston has no state tax on wages. Tuscaloosa has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Tuscaloosa is 84% of the national level for the same work, against 102% in Houston.
Tuscaloosa averages 223 sunny days, with July highs around 90°F and January nights around 38°F. Houston is 204 sunny days, 94°F in July, 45°F in January. Commutes average 24 minutes in Tuscaloosa and 29 in Houston.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 31 households moved Houston → Tuscaloosa (about 53 people, average AGI $46,258). 32 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Houston and Tuscaloosa changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 599 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $2,200–$4,150
- Container or pod
- $1,550–$2,850
- Rent a truck
- $750–$1,400
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Dig into Tuscaloosa
Questions
Is Tuscaloosa cheaper than Houston after tax and rent?
No. Tuscaloosa leaves about $148 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,188 in Houston and $930 in Tuscaloosa.
Does Tuscaloosa have state income tax?
Tuscaloosa is in Alabama, which taxes wage income, plus a local wage tax of 1.00%.
Did people actually move from Houston to Tuscaloosa?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.