The Dothan MSA touts the lowest composite cost-of-living in the state.
The Council for Community and Economic Research, ACCRA Average 2009 Cost of Living Index released in February 2010, indicates the Dothan Metropolitan Statistical Area registered the lowest composite cost-of-living index in Alabama, at 86.4 percent. With the national composite of 100, we are 12.0 percent less than the national index. Within the state, 10 urban areas reported for the survey, with the highest composite index being 97.5. As well as having the lowest composite index in the state, Dothan also had the lowest index for Health Care at 80.1 percent.

The ACCRA Cost of Living Index is published quarterly by C2ER – The Council for Community and Economic Research. The Index measures regional differences in the cost of consumer goods and services, excluding taxes and non-consumer expenditures, for professional and managerial households in the top income quintile. It is based on more than 50,000 prices covering almost 60 different items for which prices are collected quarterly by chambers of commerce, economic development organizations or university applied economic centers in each participating urban area. Small differences should not be interpreted as showing a measurable difference.

The composite index is based on six components – Grocery Items, Housing, Utilities, Transportation, Health Care and Miscellaneous Goods and Services.