Birmingham, AL Cost Of Living
Cost Of Living In Birmingham, AL Summary
Cost of living in Birmingham research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Birmingham is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.
On a city-by-city basis in Alabama, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:
The cost of living index in Birmingham is 90, with 100 being the average.
The cost of living index in Birmingham is 0.9x lower than the national average.
Birmingham ranks as the #48 cheapest in Alabama out of 119.
Birmingham ranks as the #1,206 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.
The median home value in Birmingham is $132,921.
The median income in Birmingham is $44,376.
Table Of Contents
Birmingham's Overall Cost Of Living
Lower Than The National Average
What is the cost of living in Birmingham, AL?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Birmingham has an overall cost of living index of 90, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Alabama, Birmingham has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Alabama's index of 90.
The standard of living in Birmingham ranks as #48 most affordable out of the 119 places we measured in Alabama. By definition, that implies Birmingham ranks as the #71 most expensive place in the Heart of Dixie.
For more reading on life in Birmingham, check out:
In Alabama
In America
Birmingham Cost Of Living Vs. Alabama
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Birmingham. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Birmingham is 100.
The Groceries index in Birmingham is 99.
The Health index in Birmingham is 95.
The Housing index in Birmingham is 65.
The Transportation index in Birmingham is 91.
The Utilities index in Birmingham is 109.
| Living Expense | Birmingham | Alabama | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 90 | 90 | 100 | |
| Services | 100 | 97 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 99 | 98 | 100 | |
| Health | 95 | 86 | 100 | |
| Housing | 65 | 74 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 91 | 93 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 109 | 102 | 100 | |
Birmingham, AL Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Alabama, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2019-2023. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Birmingham is $132,921.
The Median Rent in Birmingham is $1,047.
The Median Income in Birmingham is $44,376.
The Home Value To Income in Birmingham is 3.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Birmingham is 0.28x.
| Statistic | Birmingham | Alabama | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $132,921 | $232,780 | $303,400 |
| Median Rent | $1,047 | $963 | $1,348 |
| Median Income | $44,376 | $62,027 | $78,538 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.0x | 3.8x | 3.9x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.28x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Income
Birmingham, AL Costs By Category
Detailed Birmingham Services Costs Vs. Alabama
| Item | Birmingham | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.33 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.54 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $16.37 | $18 |
| Haircut | $20.07 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $45.74 | $45.56 |
Detailed Birmingham Groceries Costs Vs. Alabama
| Item | Birmingham | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.01 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.66 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.54 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.23 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.99 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.4 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.76 | $3.7 |
Detailed Birmingham Health Costs Vs. Alabama
| Item | Birmingham | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $92.33 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $101.83 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $125.78 | $113.29 |
Detailed Birmingham Transportation Costs Vs. Alabama
| Item | Birmingham | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.13 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $54.52 | $59.92 |
Detailed Birmingham Utilities Costs Vs. Alabama
| Item | Birmingham | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $219.4 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $188.55 | $192.25 |
Birmingham SnackAbility
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Cost Of Living In Cities Around Birmingham
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Birmingham. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Vestavia Hills, AL has a cost of living index of 126, 1.4x Birmingham.
Homewood, AL has a cost of living index of 123, 1.4x Birmingham.
Trussville, AL has a cost of living index of 109, 1.2x Birmingham.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Birmingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vestavia Hills, AL | 38,704 | 126 | 1.4x |
| Homewood, AL | 27,697 | 123 | 1.4x |
| Trussville, AL | 26,182 | 109 | 1.2x |
| Bessemer, AL | 25,655 | 88 | 1.0x |
| Pelham, AL | 24,510 | 104 | 1.2x |
| Mountain Brook, AL | 22,160 | 161 | 1.8x |
| Hueytown, AL | 16,541 | 91 | 1.0x |
| Center Point, AL | 16,125 | 89 | 1.0x |
| Chelsea, AL | 15,731 | 109 | 1.2x |
| Irondale, AL | 13,462 | 96 | 1.1x |
