What is the cost of living in Birmingham, MI?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Birmingham has an overall cost of living index of 146, which is 1.5x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Michigan, Birmingham has a cost of living index that's 1.6x higher than Michigan's index of 91.
The standard of living in Birmingham ranks as #179 most affordable out of the 179 places we measured in Michigan. By definition, that implies Birmingham ranks as the #0 most expensive place in the Wolverine State.
For more reading on life in Birmingham, check out:
Birmingham Cost Of Living Vs. Michigan
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 102.
The Groceries index in Birmingham is 94.
The Health index in Birmingham is 257.
The Housing index in Birmingham is 101.
The Transportation index in Birmingham is 101.
The Utilities index in Birmingham is 98.
| Living Expense | Birmingham | Michigan | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 146 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 94 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 257 | 75 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 98 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 101 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 98 | 100 |
Birmingham Cost Of Living Compared To Michigan Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Michigan, 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, MI Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Michigan, 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 $733,351.
The Median Rent in Birmingham is $1,902.
The Median Income in Birmingham is $153,510.
The Home Value To Income in Birmingham is 4.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Birmingham is 0.15x.
| Statistic | Birmingham | Michigan | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $733,351 | $259,857 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,902 | $1,129 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $153,510 | $72,875 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.8x | 3.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.15x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Birmingham, MI Costs By Category
Detailed Birmingham Services costs vs. Michigan
| Item | Birmingham | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.13 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.99 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $12.33 | $18 |
| Haircut | $16.8 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $24.78 | $45.56 |
Detailed Birmingham Groceries costs vs. Michigan
| Item | Birmingham | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.75 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.41 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.78 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.8 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $8.99 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.04 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.66 | $3.7 |
Detailed Birmingham Health costs vs. Michigan
| Item | Birmingham | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $85.0 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $103.33 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $91.0 | $113.29 |
Detailed Birmingham Transportation costs vs. Michigan
| Item | Birmingham | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.35 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $56.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Birmingham Utilities costs vs. Michigan
| Item | Birmingham | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $219.2 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $184.44 | $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:
Troy, MI has a cost of living index of 114, 0.8x Birmingham.
Rochester Hills, MI has a cost of living index of 118, 0.8x Birmingham.
Novi, MI has a cost of living index of 116, 0.8x Birmingham.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Birmingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Troy, MI | 87,898 | 114 | 0.8x |
| Rochester Hills, MI | 77,089 | 118 | 0.8x |
| Novi, MI | 66,717 | 116 | 0.8x |
| Royal Oak, MI | 57,950 | 107 | 0.7x |
| Berkley, MI | 15,149 | 105 | 0.7x |
| Clawson, MI | 11,374 | 101 | 0.7x |
| Beverly Hills, MI | 10,524 | 127 | 0.9x |
| Plymouth, MI | 9,214 | 113 | 0.8x |
| Huntington Woods, MI | 6,328 | 132 | 0.9x |
| Northville, MI | 6,069 | 116 | 0.8x |
