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Cost of Living · Alabama

Birmingham Cost of Living

Birmingham, Alabama costs approximately 12.0% below the US national average. Compare with 99 other major US cities.

0.88×
cost-of-living index (1.00 = US national average)
Birmingham ranks 1 of 2 cities in Alabama by cost of living.
Cities MORE expensive than Birmingham (94)
San Francisco, CA
+64.8% more expensive
Oakland, CA
+53.4% more expensive
New York City, NY
+50.0% more expensive
Honolulu, HI
+47.7% more expensive
Irvine, CA
+47.7% more expensive
Los Angeles, CA
+38.6% more expensive
Boston, MA
+38.6% more expensive
San Diego, CA
+37.5% more expensive
Yonkers, NY
+36.4% more expensive
Anchorage, AK
+36.4% more expensive
Seattle, WA
+34.1% more expensive
Long Beach, CA
+34.1% more expensive
Anaheim, CA
+34.1% more expensive
Scottsdale, AZ
+34.1% more expensive
Chula Vista, CA
+30.7% more expensive
Miami, FL
+27.3% more expensive
Portland, OR
+25.0% more expensive
Newark, NJ
+25.0% more expensive
Sacramento, CA
+25.0% more expensive
Riverside, CA
+25.0% more expensive
Denver, CO
+22.7% more expensive
Chicago, IL
+19.3% more expensive
Austin, TX
+19.3% more expensive
Baltimore, MD
+19.3% more expensive
Stockton, CA
+19.3% more expensive
Aurora, CO
+19.3% more expensive
Hialeah, FL
+19.3% more expensive
Frisco, TX
+19.3% more expensive
Las Vegas, NV
+18.2% more expensive
Minneapolis, MN
+18.2% more expensive
Plano, TX
+18.2% more expensive
Chandler, AZ
+18.2% more expensive
Phoenix, AZ
+15.9% more expensive
Philadelphia, PA
+15.9% more expensive
Atlanta, GA
+15.9% more expensive
Tampa, FL
+15.9% more expensive
Henderson, NV
+15.9% more expensive
Reno, NV
+15.9% more expensive
Gilbert, AZ
+15.9% more expensive
Charleston, SC
+15.9% more expensive
Salt Lake City, UT
+15.9% more expensive
Orlando, FL
+14.8% more expensive
Wilmington, DE
+13.6% more expensive
Raleigh, NC
+13.6% more expensive
Virginia Beach, VA
+13.6% more expensive
St. Paul, MN
+13.6% more expensive
Chesapeake, VA
+13.6% more expensive
North Las Vegas, NV
+13.6% more expensive
Boise, ID
+13.6% more expensive
Fresno, CA
+13.6% more expensive
Worcester, MA
+13.6% more expensive
Dallas, TX
+12.5% more expensive
Nashville, TN
+12.5% more expensive
Colorado Springs, CO
+12.5% more expensive
Bakersfield, CA
+12.5% more expensive
St. Petersburg, FL
+12.5% more expensive
Madison, WI
+12.5% more expensive
Norfolk, VA
+11.4% more expensive
Jacksonville, FL
+10.2% more expensive
Charlotte, NC
+10.2% more expensive
Mesa, AZ
+10.2% more expensive
Houston, TX
+9.1% more expensive
Fort Worth, TX
+9.1% more expensive
Tucson, AZ
+9.1% more expensive
Glendale, AZ
+9.1% more expensive
Garland, TX
+9.1% more expensive
Spokane, WA
+9.1% more expensive
Pittsburgh, PA
+8.0% more expensive
Arlington, TX
+8.0% more expensive
Tallahassee, FL
+8.0% more expensive
Milwaukee, WI
+6.8% more expensive
Albuquerque, NM
+6.8% more expensive
New Orleans, LA
+6.8% more expensive
San Antonio, TX
+5.7% more expensive
Grand Rapids, MI
+5.7% more expensive
Columbus, OH
+4.5% more expensive
Detroit, MI
+4.5% more expensive
Cincinnati, OH
+4.5% more expensive
Kansas City, MO
+4.5% more expensive
Lexington, KY
+4.5% more expensive
Corpus Christi, TX
+4.5% more expensive
Buffalo, NY
+4.5% more expensive
Greensboro, NC
+4.5% more expensive
Knoxville, TN
+4.5% more expensive
El Paso, TX
+3.4% more expensive
Cleveland, OH
+3.4% more expensive
St. Louis, MO
+3.4% more expensive
Winston-Salem, NC
+3.4% more expensive
Indianapolis, IN
+2.3% more expensive
Louisville, KY
+2.3% more expensive
Omaha, NE
+2.3% more expensive
Memphis, TN
+1.1% more expensive
Oklahoma City, OK
+1.1% more expensive
Lincoln, NE
+1.1% more expensive
Cities CHEAPER than Birmingham (3)
Wichita, KS
−2.3% cheaper
Fort Wayne, IN
−2.3% cheaper
Mobile, AL
−2.3% cheaper

What living in Birmingham costs

At 0.88x national costs, Birmingham is more expensive than 3 and cheaper than 94 of the 99 other metros here. In practical terms that is $950 a month for a one-bedroom and roughly $220,000 to buy.

Price-to-rent sits around 19 — the middle band where buying and renting are close enough that the decision turns on how long you will stay and what else you would do with the down payment.

Working and living here

Birmingham is a metro of roughly 1.2M and roughly flat, running on healthcare/medical research, banking, manufacturing. Larger employers include University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Regions Financial, St. Vincent's Health System.

Two tax details that change take-home here: Birmingham levies a local income tax of about 1.00% on top of state and federal — roughly $1,000 a year on a $100,000 salary — and Alabama taxes income as well.

Getting around: Birmingham is effectively car-dependent. Budget for a car — around $9,000 a year all-in once insurance, fuel, maintenance and parking are counted, a cost the index assumes but does not itemise.

Climate: Humid subtropical: January highs near 53°F/lows 34°F, July highs near 91°F/lows 71°F, humid summers.

Birmingham levies a 1% occupational tax on wages earned within city limits, on top of Alabama's state income tax; UAB is by far the metro's largest employer.

Related tools

Paycheck calculator — take-home after federal, state and local tax. Salary calculator — pay by job and state. Compare against another metro.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Birmingham expensive to live in?▾
Relative to the US average, no — the cost index is 0.88x, above 3 and below 94 of the 99 other metros tracked here. A one-bedroom averages $950 a month and the median home $220,000.
What salary do you need to live comfortably in Birmingham?▾
A common rule keeps rent under 30% of gross income, which at $950 a month implies about $38,000 a year for a one-bedroom, before accounting for the 1.00% local income tax. That is a floor rather than a comfortable figure — it leaves nothing for savings or the car this metro effectively requires.