City profile
Birmingham, AL cost of living
AL · BLS RPP 91.2
Overall RPP
91.2
US = 100
Housing RPP
70.4
Housing component
Goods RPP
94.6
Goods component
2-BR Rent (HUD)
$1,245/mo
FY2024 FMR
Where Birmingham, AL sits in the verified metro set
RPP rank
#65 of 67
-8.8 vs U.S. average
Vs median metro
-7.2
median RPP 98.4
2-BR rent rank
#54 of 67
-361/mo vs median verified metro
RPP ranks use only verified ReloMath metro records. Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities by MSA, 2022 (Table 4); HUD FY2024 Fair Market Rents (2-BR); reviewed June 2026. These are official published averages, not neighborhood-level prices.
Who’s moving in and out of Birmingham, AL
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Cost of living is only half the relocation question. The other half is which way people are actually voting with their feet, straight from IRS tax-return migration for the Birmingham, AL metro.
Moved in
48,045
people · 26,623 households
Moved out
47,782
people · 26,716 households
Net
+263
net gain of residents
Net migration rank
#29 of 65
among IRS-covered ReloMath metros
Vs median net flow
+367
median -104 people
Largest flow share
4% in / 3% out
top named county shares
Where new residents came from
- Tuscaloosa County, AL 1,794
- Talladega County, AL 879
- Madison County, AL 692
- Montgomery County, AL 661
- Etowah County, AL 634
Where residents moved to
- Tuscaloosa County, AL 1,596
- Cullman County, AL 1,033
- Talladega County, AL 1,019
- Madison County, AL 941
- Baldwin County, AL 785
Counts are IRS tax filers (returns ≈ households, individuals ≈ exemptions) who changed address between 2021-2022. Flows too small for IRS to disclose are grouped and excluded from the named lists. Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration data ↗, mapped to metros via the U.S. Census CBSA delineation.
What salary do you need in Birmingham, AL?
Equivalent salary to maintain the same purchasing power as in a US-average city (RPP 100).
| In US-average city | You need in Birmingham, AL | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $45,600 | $50,000 x (91.2/100) |
| $75,000 | $68,400 | $75,000 x (91.2/100) |
| $100,000 | $91,200 | $100,000 x (91.2/100) |
| $125,000 | $114,000 | $125,000 x (91.2/100) |
| $150,000 | $136,800 | $150,000 x (91.2/100) |
| $200,000 | $182,400 | $200,000 x (91.2/100) |
This tool provides estimates only. Equivalent-salary figures are derived from BLS Regional Price Parities (RPP) and HUD Fair Market Rents — they are averages, not guarantees. Actual cost of living varies by neighborhood, lifestyle, and individual circumstances. Not financial advice.
State income tax note
Alabama income tax 2%-5%.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Birmingham, AL?
- Birmingham, AL has a BLS Regional Price Parity of 91.2 (US average = 100). It is 8.8% less expensive than the national average.
- What salary do I need to live in Birmingham, AL?
- If you earn $100,000 in a US-average city (RPP 100), you would need approximately $91,200 in Birmingham, AL to maintain the same purchasing power.
- What is the average rent in Birmingham, AL?
- The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Birmingham, AL is approximately $1,245 per month as of FY2024.
- Are people moving to or away from Birmingham, AL?
- Based on IRS tax-return migration data for 2021-2022, about 48,045 people moved into the Birmingham, AL metro and 47,782 moved out — a net gain of roughly 263 residents. The largest single source of new residents was Tuscaloosa County, AL.
Curated nearby & similar cities
Similar verified metros by RPP
These links are chosen by data proximity: closest overall RPP to Birmingham, AL, with HUD 2-BR rent as a tie-breaker.
Curated cost-of-living comparisons for Birmingham, AL
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