Cost of living in Birmingham

In Birmingham, United States, a family of four typically needs around $4508 per month including rent. A single person may spend about $1874 monthly.

How expensive is Birmingham compared to other cities?

Birmingham is 31% more expensive overall versus the European benchmark.

How does Birmingham compare to your city?

Birmingham is 14% more expensive than Columbus, without rent.

Rent in Birmingham is, on average, 19% lower than in Columbus.

What drives the cost of living in Birmingham?

Who is Birmingham a good fit for?

Birmingham is most realistic when moving with a strong job offer or relocation package. Without high income, the housing-driven price level can be difficult to sustain.

FAQ

Why is Birmingham so expensive?

The primary driver of Birmingham's high cost of living is the elevated rent and utilities. This significantly impacts overall expenses for residents.

Is food expensive in Birmingham?

Yes, food costs are 20% higher than the European benchmark, contributing to the overall expense of living.

Is public transport affordable in Birmingham?

Public transport in Birmingham is 18% lower than the European benchmark, making it a more budget-friendly option.

Cost of living breakdown

Cost of Living, one person, including rent
1874 $
Without Rent
775 $
Rent & Utilities
1099 $
Food
571 $
Transport
61 $
Monthly Salary, after tax
3187 $
GDP per Capita
81,695 $
Freedom Index
8.39
Lifespan
77 years
Speak English
96%
Population
201.0K

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Update Prices

Restaurants

Lunch menu, inexpensive restaurant 15.4 $
Dinner 60.8 $
Fast food, McDonalds or KFC 9.69 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 6 $
Capuccino 5.17 $
Coke, 330ml 2.19 $

Compare Birmingham with:

Markets

Milk, 1 L or 1 qt 1.05 $
Bread, 0.5 kg or 1 lb 3.11 $
Rice, 1 kg or 2 lb 2.95 $
Eggs, 12 pack 3.49 $
Cheese, 1 kg or 2 lb 12.4 $
Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2 lb 12.8 $
Round Steak, 1 kg or 2 lb 14.6 $
Apples, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.92 $
Banana, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.81 $
Oranges, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.94 $
Tomato, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.61 $
Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 2.88 $
Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 3.13 $
Water, 1 L or 1 qt 1.42 $
Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz 2.8 $
Wine, 750 mL bottle 16.2 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 3.28 $
Cigarette pack 6.54 $

Transportation

One-way Ticket 1.51 $
Monthly Pass 51.2 $
Gas or Petrol, 1l or 0.26 gal 0.85 $
Taxi, 8 km 15.4 $

Personal Care

Doctor Visit, private clinic 99.4 $
Cold medicine, for 1 week 5.63 $
Hair Shampoo, 400 ml or 12 oz. 4.97 $
Toilet paper, 4 rolls 3.49 $
Toothpaste, 1 tube 1.89 $

Utilities per Month

1 person, electricity, heating, water & garbage 121 $
Family of 4, electricity, heating, water & garbage 186 $
Internet plan, +60 Mbps 49.4 $

Rent per Month

1 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 40 sq.m 867 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 85 sq.m 1,701 $
1 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 40 sq.m 1,174 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 85 sq.m 1,992 $

Buy Apartment Price

Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment, in city center 2,402 $
Price per Square Meter to Buy House, in suburbs 2,302 $

Salaries and Financing

Average Monthly Net Salary, after tax 3,187 $
Mortgage Interest Rate, for 20 years fixed-rate 6.56%

Sports and Leisure

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 36.4 $
Cinema, 1 seat 13.1 $
Haircut 16.8 $

Clothing and Shoes

Brand Sneakers, mid-range, Nike or similar 91.5 $
Brand Jeans, Levis 501 49.5 $

Childcare

Preschool, full day, monthly for 1 child 904 $
International Primary School, yearly for 1 child 18,344 $

Compare Birmingham with other top cities

Cayman Islands
Birmingham vs George Town (George Town is 94% more expensive)
Bahamas
Birmingham vs Nassau (Nassau is 47% more expensive) Birmingham vs Freeport (Freeport is 17% more expensive)
Vanuatu
Birmingham vs Port Vila (Port Vila is 25% more expensive) Birmingham vs Luganville (Luganville is 63% more expensive)
United States
Birmingham vs New York City (New York City is 116% more expensive) Birmingham vs Los Angeles (Los Angeles is 70% more expensive) Birmingham vs Chicago (Chicago is 42% more expensive) Birmingham vs Houston (Houston is 20% more expensive) Birmingham vs Phoenix (Phoenix is 26% more expensive) Birmingham vs Philadelphia (Philadelphia is 36% more expensive) Birmingham vs San Antonio (San Antonio is 17% more expensive) Birmingham vs San Diego (San Diego is 79% more expensive) Birmingham vs Dallas (Dallas is 36% more expensive) Birmingham vs San Jose (San Jose is 96% more expensive)
Canada
Birmingham vs Toronto (Toronto is 37% more expensive) Birmingham vs Montreal (Montreal is 4% more expensive) Birmingham vs Calgary (Calgary is 15% more expensive) Birmingham vs Ottawa (Ottawa is 19% more expensive) Birmingham vs Edmonton (Edmonton is 5% less expensive) Birmingham vs Winnipeg (Winnipeg is 6% less expensive) Birmingham vs Mississauga (Mississauga is 32% more expensive) Birmingham vs Vancouver (Vancouver is 41% more expensive) Birmingham vs Brampton (Brampton is 14% more expensive) Birmingham vs Hamilton (Hamilton is 15% more expensive)
Barbados
Birmingham vs Bridgetown (Bridgetown is 27% less expensive) Birmingham vs Holetown (Holetown is 26% less expensive)
Panama
Birmingham vs Panama City (Panama City is 26% less expensive) Birmingham vs Colon (Colon is 37% less expensive) Birmingham vs Tocumen (Tocumen is 34% less expensive) Birmingham vs Santiago de Veraguas (Santiago de Veraguas is 44% less expensive) Birmingham vs David (David is 56% less expensive) Birmingham vs La Chorrera (La Chorrera is 49% less expensive) Birmingham vs Balboa (Balboa is 33% less expensive) Birmingham vs Pacora (Pacora is 33% less expensive) Birmingham vs Chitre (Chitre is 42% less expensive) Birmingham vs Penonome (Penonome is 41% less expensive)
Saint Kitts And Nevis
Birmingham vs Basseterre (Basseterre is 34% less expensive) Birmingham vs Cayon (Cayon is 34% less expensive)
Cuba
Birmingham vs Havana (Havana is 45% less expensive) Birmingham vs Santiago de Cuba (Santiago de Cuba is 24% less expensive) Birmingham vs Holguin (Holguin is 32% less expensive) Birmingham vs Camaguey (Camaguey is 19% less expensive) Birmingham vs Santa Clara (Santa Clara is 44% less expensive) Birmingham vs Bayamo (Bayamo is 38% less expensive) Birmingham vs Guantanamo (Guantanamo is 17% less expensive) Birmingham vs Las Tunas (Las Tunas is 17% less expensive) Birmingham vs Pinar del Rio (Pinar del Rio is 42% less expensive) Birmingham vs Cienfuegos (Cienfuegos is 53% less expensive)
Costa Rica
Birmingham vs San Jose (San Jose is 34% less expensive) Birmingham vs Limon (Limon is 36% less expensive) Birmingham vs Liberia (Liberia is 52% less expensive) Birmingham vs Alajuela (Alajuela is 34% less expensive) Birmingham vs Puntarenas (Puntarenas is 32% less expensive) Birmingham vs Cartago (Cartago is 49% less expensive) Birmingham vs Heredia (Heredia is 34% less expensive) Birmingham vs Tamarindo (Tamarindo is 10% less expensive) Birmingham vs Santa Teresa (Santa Teresa is 30% less expensive)
Saint Lucia
Birmingham vs Castries (Castries is 38% less expensive) Birmingham vs Vieux Fort (Vieux Fort is 36% less expensive)
Jamaica
Birmingham vs Kingston (Kingston is 29% less expensive) Birmingham vs Spanish Town (Spanish Town is 58% less expensive) Birmingham vs Montego Bay (Montego Bay is 46% less expensive) Birmingham vs Half Way Tree (Half Way Tree is 38% less expensive) Birmingham vs May Pen (May Pen is 56% less expensive) Birmingham vs Mandeville (Mandeville is 48% less expensive) Birmingham vs Old Harbour (Old Harbour is 55% less expensive) Birmingham vs Linstead (Linstead is 44% less expensive) Birmingham vs Savanna-la-Mar (Savanna-la-Mar is 40% less expensive) Birmingham vs Port Antonio (Port Antonio is 39% less expensive)
El Salvador
Birmingham vs San Salvador (San Salvador is 36% less expensive) Birmingham vs Santa Ana (Santa Ana is 62% less expensive) Birmingham vs Soyapango (Soyapango is 37% less expensive) Birmingham vs San Miguel (San Miguel is 42% less expensive) Birmingham vs Mejicanos (Mejicanos is 38% less expensive) Birmingham vs Apopa (Apopa is 39% less expensive) Birmingham vs Santa Tecla (Santa Tecla is 36% less expensive) Birmingham vs Ahuachapan (Ahuachapan is 22% less expensive) Birmingham vs Usulutan (Usulutan is 42% less expensive) Birmingham vs Sonsonate (Sonsonate is 53% less expensive)
Antigua And Barbuda
Birmingham vs St. John's (St. John's is 42% less expensive) Birmingham vs All Saints (All Saints is 42% less expensive)
Grenada
Birmingham vs St. George's (St. George's is 43% less expensive) Birmingham vs Grenville (Grenville is 43% less expensive)
Dominica
Birmingham vs Roseau (Roseau is 46% less expensive) Birmingham vs Portsmouth (Portsmouth is 39% less expensive)
Saint Vincent
Birmingham vs Kingstown (Kingstown is 48% less expensive) Birmingham vs Georgetown (Georgetown is 46% less expensive)
Belize
Birmingham vs Belize City (Belize City is 53% less expensive) Birmingham vs San Ignacio (San Ignacio is 42% less expensive) Birmingham vs Belmopan (Belmopan is 61% less expensive) Birmingham vs San Pedro Town (San Pedro Town is 29% less expensive) Birmingham vs Caye Caulker (Caye Caulker is 16% less expensive)
Guatemala
Birmingham vs Guatemala City (Guatemala City is 46% less expensive) Birmingham vs Mixco (Mixco is 66% less expensive) Birmingham vs Coban (Coban is 51% less expensive) Birmingham vs Quetzaltenango (Quetzaltenango is 59% less expensive) Birmingham vs Jalapa (Jalapa is 52% less expensive) Birmingham vs San Miguel Petapa (San Miguel Petapa is 52% less expensive) Birmingham vs Momostenango (Momostenango is 53% less expensive) Birmingham vs Mazatenango (Mazatenango is 54% less expensive) Birmingham vs Flores (Flores is 54% less expensive) Birmingham vs Panajachel (Panajachel is 58% less expensive)
Honduras
Birmingham vs Tegucigalpa (Tegucigalpa is 56% less expensive) Birmingham vs San Pedro Sula (San Pedro Sula is 45% less expensive) Birmingham vs Choloma (Choloma is 68% less expensive) Birmingham vs La Ceiba (La Ceiba is 65% less expensive) Birmingham vs El Progreso (El Progreso is 53% less expensive) Birmingham vs Villanueva (Villanueva is 54% less expensive) Birmingham vs Comayagua (Comayagua is 62% less expensive) Birmingham vs Puerto Cortes (Puerto Cortes is 62% less expensive) Birmingham vs Yoro (Yoro is 61% less expensive) Birmingham vs La Lima (La Lima is 54% less expensive)
Dominican Republic
Birmingham vs Santiago de los Caballeros (Santiago de los Caballeros is 58% less expensive) Birmingham vs Santo Domingo (Santo Domingo is 44% less expensive) Birmingham vs Puerto Plata (Puerto Plata is 59% less expensive) Birmingham vs Higuey (Higuey is 59% less expensive) Birmingham vs La Vega (La Vega is 69% less expensive) Birmingham vs San Cristobal (San Cristobal is 56% less expensive) Birmingham vs San Pedro de Macoris (San Pedro de Macoris is 61% less expensive) Birmingham vs San Francisco de Macoris (San Francisco de Macoris is 72% less expensive) Birmingham vs San Juan de la Maguana (San Juan de la Maguana is 67% less expensive) Birmingham vs Bonao (Bonao is 71% less expensive)
Nicaragua
Birmingham vs Managua (Managua is 59% less expensive) Birmingham vs Leon (Leon is 66% less expensive) Birmingham vs Masaya (Masaya is 62% less expensive) Birmingham vs Matagalpa (Matagalpa is 71% less expensive) Birmingham vs Chinandega (Chinandega is 66% less expensive) Birmingham vs Esteli (Esteli is 68% less expensive) Birmingham vs Granada (Granada is 63% less expensive) Birmingham vs Jinotega (Jinotega is 76% less expensive) Birmingham vs Juigalpa (Juigalpa is 65% less expensive) Birmingham vs San Juan del Sur (San Juan del Sur is 53% less expensive)