Actually, the Cost Of Attendance Stipends (paychecks) are really not that bad in Tuscaloosa.
COA breakdown for the SEC
Tennessee $5,666
Auburn $5,586
Alabama $5,386
Miss. State $5,156
Mississippi $4,890
Arkansas $4,500
Missouri $4,290
South Carolina $4,201
Florida $3,830
LSU $3,800
Georgia $3,746
Kentucky $3,598
Texas A&M $3,528
Vanderbilt declined to provide