Route comparison
New Orleans, LA vs Birmingham, AL: Cost of Living
Compare the cost of living between New Orleans, LA and Birmingham, AL. See the equivalent salary and median rent powered by BLS Regional Price Parities.
New Orleans, LA
LA
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 93.6
- Housing RPP
- 83.6
- Goods RPP
- 93.9
- 2-BR median rent
- $1,362/mo
Louisiana income tax 1.85%-4.25%.
Birmingham, AL
AL
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 91.2
- Housing RPP
- 70.4
- Goods RPP
- 94.6
- 2-BR median rent
- $1,245/mo
Alabama income tax 2%-5%.
Equivalent salary
Birmingham, AL is cheaper than New Orleans, LA by about 2.6% (RPP 93.6 to 91.2).
$60,000 in New Orleans, LA
-> $58,462
in Birmingham, AL
$100,000 in New Orleans, LA
-> $97,436
in Birmingham, AL
$150,000 in New Orleans, LA
-> $146,154
in Birmingham, AL
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.
Migration signal: New Orleans, LA vs Birmingham, AL
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022New Orleans, LA
- Net people
- −15,416
- Net rank
- #53 of 65
- Top origin share
- 5%
- Top destination share
- 10%
Largest source: St. Tammany Parish, LA. Largest destination: St. Tammany Parish, LA.
Birmingham, AL
- Net people
- +263
- Net rank
- #29 of 65
- Top origin share
- 4%
- Top destination share
- 3%
Largest source: Tuscaloosa County, AL. Largest destination: Tuscaloosa County, AL.
Rent delta: Birmingham, AL is $117/mo lower for HUD FY2024 2-BR FMR than New Orleans, LA. Housing RPP moves from 83.6 to 70.4.
Migration figures are derived from IRS SOI county-to-county migration data for 2021-2022, mapped to metros via Census CBSA delineation. Small county-to-county flows are IRS-suppressed, so per-metro totals are lower bounds. Source: IRS SOI migration data.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Birmingham, AL cheaper or more expensive than New Orleans, LA?
- Birmingham, AL (RPP 91.2) is cheaper than New Orleans, LA (RPP 93.6) by about 2.6%.
- What salary do I need in Birmingham, AL if I earn $100,000 in New Orleans, LA?
- You would need approximately $97,436 in Birmingham, AL to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in New Orleans, LA. Formula: $100,000 x (91.2 / 93.6).
- Which metro had stronger net migration, New Orleans, LA or Birmingham, AL?
- For 2021-2022, New Orleans, LA had a net loss of 15,416 people, while Birmingham, AL had a net gain of 263 people. IRS small-flow suppression means these are lower-bound research signals, not complete population-change totals.