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 91.
The standard of living in Birmingham ranks as #50 most affordable out of the 116 places we measured in Alabama. By definition, that implies Birmingham ranks as the #66 most expensive place in the Heart of Dixie.
For more reading on life in Birmingham, check out:
Birmingham Cost Of Living Vs. Alabama
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Birmingham. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Birmingham is 100.
The Groceries index in Birmingham is 101.
The Health index in Birmingham is 66.
The Housing index in Birmingham is 98.
The Transportation index in Birmingham is 97.
The Utilities index in Birmingham is 96.
| Living Expense | Birmingham | Alabama | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 90 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 100 | 95 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 96 | 100 |
| Health | 66 | 74 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 96 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 95 | 100 |
| Utilities | 96 | 95 | 100 |
Birmingham Cost Of Living Compared To Alabama Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Alabama, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Birmingham Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Birmingham is $135,870.
The Median Rent in Birmingham is $1,107.
The Median Income in Birmingham is $46,051.
The Home Value To Income in Birmingham is 3.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Birmingham is 0.29x.
| Statistic | Birmingham | Alabama | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $135,870 | $236,452 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,107 | $1,007 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $46,051 | $63,999 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.0x | 3.7x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.29x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
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
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 125, 1.4x Birmingham.
Homewood, AL has a cost of living index of 124, 1.4x Birmingham.
Trussville, AL has a cost of living index of 112, 1.2x Birmingham.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Birmingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vestavia Hills, AL | 38,616 | 125 | 1.4x |
| Homewood, AL | 27,829 | 124 | 1.4x |
| Trussville, AL | 26,673 | 112 | 1.2x |
| Bessemer, AL | 25,400 | 86 | 1.0x |
| Pelham, AL | 24,827 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Mountain Brook, AL | 22,029 | 162 | 1.8x |
| Hueytown, AL | 16,414 | 87 | 1.0x |
| Chelsea, AL | 16,260 | 107 | 1.2x |
| Center Point, AL | 15,914 | 88 | 1.0x |
| Moody, AL | 13,488 | 94 | 1.0x |
