Birmingham, AL Cost Of Living
Birmingham's Overall Cost Of Living
Lower Than The National Average
In Alabama
In America
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 87 which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to only 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 #1,101 most affordable out of the 6,418 places we measured in Alabama. By definition, that implies Birmingham ranks as the #5,317 most expensive place in the Heart of Dixie.
Birmingham Cost Of Living Vs. Alabama
| Living Expense | Birmingham | Alabama | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 87 | 90 | 100 | |
| Services | 102 | 98 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 94 | 98 | 100 | |
| Health | 93 | 92 | 100 | |
| Housing | 56 | 73 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 96 | 91 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 101 | 103 | 100 | |
Birmingham, AL Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Alabama, so we broke down the statistics around housing costs into more detail. It's also important to consider median household incomes to make apples-to-apples comparisons across locations.
Home and income come data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2014-2018.
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Income
| Statistic | Birmingham | Alabama | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $97,500 | $149,600 | $229,800 |
| Median Rent | $870 | $811 | $1,096 |
| Median Income | $38,832 | $52,035 | $64,994 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.5x | 2.9x | 3.5x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.27x | 0.19x | 0.2x |
Detailed Birmingham Services Costs Vs. Alabama
| Item | Birmingham | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $0.88 | $1.06 |
| Movie | $12.74 | $10.68 |
| Bowling | $15.0 | $14.67 |
Detailed Birmingham Groceries Costs Vs. Alabama
| Item | Birmingham | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $4.35 | $4.22 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.38 | $1.39 |
| Milk | $1.92 | $2.05 |
Detailed Birmingham Health Costs Vs. Alabama
| Item | Birmingham | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Haircut | $16.76 | $18.62 |
| Beauty Salon | $33.83 | $39.05 |
| Toothpaste | $1.8 | $2.34 |
Detailed Birmingham Transportation Costs Vs. Alabama
| Item | Birmingham | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Potatoes | $3.0 | $3.29 |
| Pizza | $9.76 | $10.62 |
| Beer | $9.12 | $9.38 |
| Optometrist | $95.8 | $108.57 |
| Doctor | $77.78 | $116.17 |
| Dentist | $106.79 | $99.13 |
Detailed Birmingham Utilities Costs Vs. Alabama
| Item | Birmingham | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $2.03 | $2.22 |
| Tire Balancing | $50.9 | $50.07 |
| All Electricity | $172.23 | $167.67 |
| Phone | $181.81 | $175.64 |
Birmingham SnackAbility
/10
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Birmingham
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Birmingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vestavia Hills, AL | 34,482 | 117 | 1.3x |
| Bessemer, AL | 26,063 | 84 | 1.0x |
| Homewood, AL | 25,170 | 112 | 1.3x |
| Pelham, AL | 23,707 | 99 | 1.1x |
| Trussville, AL | 22,590 | 106 | 1.2x |
| Mountain Brook, AL | 20,178 | 145 | 1.7x |
| Center Point, AL | 15,971 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Hueytown, AL | 15,446 | 91 | 1.0x |
| Chelsea, AL | 13,599 | 107 | 1.2x |
| Irondale, AL | 13,068 | 91 | 1.0x |
