Cost of Living in Birmingham, AL
Birmingham, AL — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Birmingham, AL to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Birmingham, AL?
With a price level of 91.6 (U.S. average = 100), Birmingham, AL is cheaper than average. In detail, housing costs are 28% below average; everyday goods are 4% below average; utilities are 16% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining are 3% below average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Birmingham, AL vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 91.6 | −8.4% |
| Housing | 71.9 | −28.1% |
| Goods | 96.4 | −3.6% |
| Utilities | 83.8 | −16.2% |
| Other services | 96.7 | −3.3% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Birmingham, AL
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $992 | $39,680/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,115 | $44,600/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,234 | $49,360/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,552 | $62,080/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,770 | $70,800/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Birmingham, AL
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Birmingham, AL | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $36,700 | $30,098 |
| $60,000 | $55,000 | $43,888 |
| $80,000 | $73,300 | $56,997 |
| $100,000 | $91,600 | $68,956 |
| $150,000 | $137,500 | $98,637 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Alabama 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Birmingham, AL's median wage of $47,770 takes home about $3,203 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,115, which is 35% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,088 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Birmingham, AL
- Federal income tax$3,552
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,962
- Medicare (1.45%)$693
- Alabama income tax$2,124
- Take-home pay$38,440
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
Birmingham residents also pay the Occupational Tax: about $478 a year on the $47,770 median wage, leaving $37,962. Select “Birmingham” under City income tax above to include it.
Highest-paying jobs in Birmingham, AL
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Alabama cities
Half of Alabama’s 2,113,660 workers earn less than $45,670 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $32,050–$66,790 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Huntsville, AL stretches a paycheck furthest, while Daphne, AL is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | $47,770 | 91.6 | $1,115 | 35% | $2,088 | $41,945 |
| Huntsville, AL | $51,740 | 93.1 | $1,136 | 33% | $2,317 | $44,515 |
| Mobile, AL | $47,000 | 88.1 | $919 | 29% | $2,236 | $42,974 |
| Montgomery, AL | $44,950 | 89.7 | $870 | 29% | $2,156 | $40,493 |
| Columbus, GA | $43,540 | 89.3 | $936 | 32% | $2,002 | $39,478 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $45,220 | 87.7 | $943 | 31% | $2,100 | $41,630 |
| Daphne, AL | $38,520 | 94.7 | $1,200 | 46% | $1,422 | $33,235 |
| Auburn, AL | $39,070 | 87.9 | $1,045 | 39% | $1,612 | $36,260 |
| Decatur, AL | $46,280 | 87.2 | $776 | 25% | $2,334 | $42,789 |
| Dothan, AL | $38,170 | 83.8 | $751 | 29% | $1,850 | $37,224 |
| Florence, AL | $39,740 | 84.8 | $775 | 29% | $1,924 | $38,187 |
| Anniston, AL | $42,680 | 85.9 | $757 | 26% | $2,127 | $40,262 |
| Gadsden, AL | $36,660 | 85.7 | $792 | 32% | $1,714 | $35,105 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Birmingham, AL vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 91.6 | $1,115 | $47,770 | 520,290 |
| Buffalo, NY | 95.8 | $1,139 | $50,790 | 534,550 |
| Omaha, NE | 91.9 | $1,144 | $49,660 | 498,100 |
| Rochester, NY | 97.0 | $1,256 | $51,210 | 494,280 |
| Fresno, CA | 102.2 | $1,315 | $46,910 | 476,890 |
| Tulsa, OK | 89.2 | $976 | $46,670 | 458,730 |
| Albany, NY | 99.6 | $1,417 | $58,460 | 449,410 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Birmingham, AL expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Birmingham, AL metro area are 91.6% of the U.S. average, with housing at 71.9%. It is the #254 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Birmingham, AL?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $54,986 in Birmingham, AL (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $47,770.
Can you afford Birmingham, AL on the median wage?
A single worker on the $47,770 median wage takes home about $3,203 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,115 would take 35% of that.
How much is rent in Birmingham, AL?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Birmingham, AL are $992 for a studio, $1,115 for one bedroom, $1,234 for two bedrooms and $1,552 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Birmingham, AL
Management Occupations
- Financial Manager — $153,930
- General and Operations Manager — $123,560
- Construction Manager — $102,170
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $100,500
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Accountant and Auditor — $78,660
- Human Resources Specialist — $67,880
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $62,190
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Software Developer — $125,410
Legal Occupations
- Lawyer — $170,230
- Paralegal and Legal Assistant — $53,160
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $62,650
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $62,630
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $62,580
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $27,480
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $78,680
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $61,040
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $51,430
- Pharmacy Technician — $38,700
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Medical Assistant — $36,770
- Nursing Assistant — $35,470
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $29,550
Protective Service Occupations
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $60,590
- Firefighter — $51,050
- Security Guard — $33,820
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,570
- Cooks, Restaurant — $34,340
- Food Preparation Worker — $29,260
- Cooks, Fast Food — $28,320
- Waiter and Waitress — $27,670
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $27,220
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,020
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $36,600
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $33,370
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $71,450
- Insurance Sales Agent — $66,640
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $60,040
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $46,210
- Retail Salesperson — $31,450
- Cashier — $29,310
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $64,170
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $47,330
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $44,580
- Customer Service Representative — $40,530
- Receptionist and Information Clerk — $35,610
- Office Clerks, General — $34,220
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $71,280
- Electrician — $56,630
- Construction Laborer — $38,370
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers — $77,160
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic — $61,860
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers — $48,740
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $46,360
Production Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $75,760
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $40,170
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $61,400
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $54,460
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $48,570
- Light Truck Driver — $40,080
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $37,500
- Stocker and Order Filler — $35,660