Home › AL › Birmingham, AL Cost of living in Birmingham, AL Livability score 70 · cost-of-living index 91.8 (US = 100)
How Birmingham compares Where Birmingham falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 92 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 92 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $263k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $263k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $128 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $128 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 9.3% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 9.3% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 0.50% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.50% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 450 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 450 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 17.4 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 17.4 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 91° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 91° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 33° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 33° Map of Birmingham Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps
Cost of living Metric Value Scope US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 91.8 metro-area #54 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 94.6 metro-area #52 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.22 metro-area #52 of 200 Median household income $68,329 metro-area #116 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $41,544 metro-area #81 of 200
Who lives here Metric Value Scope US rank Median age 39.0 years metro-area #110 of 200 Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 33.2% metro-area #102 of 200 Foreign-born residents 4.3% metro-area #176 of 200 Homes that are owner-occupied 70.6% metro-area #37 of 200
Economy Metric Value Scope US rank Unemployment rate 4.90% metro-area #83 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) -2.6% metro-area #193 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value Scope US rank Median home price $262,556 metro-area #53 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 3.8× metro-area #36 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +2.0% metro-area #88 of 200 Price per square foot $128 metro-area #37 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 2,050 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,448 metro-area #64 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 5,558 Median days on market 17 metro-area #98 of 200
Taxes Metric Value Scope US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 9.8% state #78 of 200 Combined sales tax 9.25% state #174 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 5.00% Capital gains tax 5.00% state #115 of 200 High earners No special surtax Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits Effective property tax rate 0.50% metro-area #17 of 200 Median property tax paid $1,076 metro-area #14 of 200
Health & childcare Metric Value Scope US rank Life expectancy at birth 73.6 years metro-area #178 of 200 Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,200 state #10 of 200 Uninsured (share of residents) 9.7% metro-area #121 of 200 Primary care providers per 100k 85 metro-area #57 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $7,000 state #5 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value Scope US rank Annual registration $90 state #74 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) 0.70% of value (~$196/yr) state #134 of 200 Emissions testing Not required Emissions detail No vehicle emissions testing DMV & license offices 6 Avg commute to work 27 min metro-area #158 of 200 Commute by driving alone 79.3% metro-area #169 of 200 Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 42.0% metro-area #171 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value Scope US rank Electricity 17.4¢/kWh state #116 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $157 state #116 of 200 Gasoline $2.95/gal state #3 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $78 state #139 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $117 state #121 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $76 state #20 of 200
Insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Home insurance (annual) $2,400 state #139 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,900 state #86 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 89.2 — Relatively Moderate metro-area #92 of 200 Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $800 state #120 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 state #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value Scope US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 57 metro-area #186 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 2,000 metro-area #138 of 200 Homes with air conditioning (state) 94% state #64 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 2,600 metro-area #70 of 200 Days per year ≥ 90°F 55 metro-area #134 of 200 Days per year ≥ 100°F 2 metro-area #144 of 200 Avg summer high (state) 91°F metro-area #136 of 200 Avg winter low 33°F metro-area #83 of 200 Annual precipitation 56.6" metro-area #186 of 200 Annual snowfall 1.4" metro-area #63 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 58% metro-area #105 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 8a Frost window 03-10 → 11-20
Safety Metric Value Scope US rank Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 450 state #134 of 200 Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 2,500 state #151 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value Scope US rank Grocery stores 23 metro-area #155 of 200 Parks 46 Hiking areas 10 Golf courses 16 Shooting ranges 3 Lakes 5
Permits Metric Value Scope US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 2 state #1 of 200 Permit detail Generally easy
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
Top employers in Birmingham Major public and private employers in the Birmingham, AL area.
Employer Sector Jobs University of Alabama at Birmingham Education Search → Encompass Health Healthcare Careers → Regions Financial Finance Careers → Books-A-Million Retail Search → Medfast Healthcare Search → University of Birmingham Education Search →
Salaries by occupation in Birmingham Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →
Occupation Median pay Dentists $161,450 Financial Managers $146,610 Lawyers $137,860 Pharmacists $132,700 Marketing Managers $119,900 Human Resources Managers $117,480 General & Operations Managers $109,110 Software Developers $102,030 Construction Managers $101,330 Physical Therapists $98,280 Physician Assistants $97,360 Mechanical Engineers $85,690 Civil Engineers $84,650 Data Scientists $83,330 Registered Nurses $71,520 Accountants & Auditors $68,770 Web Developers $65,620 Elementary School Teachers $62,520 Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $61,530 Dental Hygienists $58,120 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $55,550 Real Estate Sales Agents $55,110 Electricians $52,990 Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $50,630 Graphic Designers $47,950 Welders, Cutters & Solderers $46,330 Carpenters $46,220 Medical Assistants $36,110
Cities in the Birmingham area Birmingham (200,431) → Hoover (91,995) → Vestavia Hills (38,600) → Alabaster (33,417) → Homewood (27,557) → Bessemer (25,890) → Trussville (25,621) → Pelham (24,221) → Mountain Brook (22,259) → Helena (21,036) → Hueytown (16,655) → Calera (16,644) → Center Point (16,279) → Gardendale (16,051) → Chelsea (15,201) → McCalla (14,509) → Jasper (14,453) → Irondale (13,455) → Moody (13,235) → Pell City (13,148) → Leeds (12,292) → Clay (10,315) →
What your paycheck is really worth, city by city — cost of living, taxes,
housing and pay across 200 US metros and 3,220 towns.
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts from Google Maps public listings.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.
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