Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Birmingham?

Birmingham, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,190 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Aurora, CO's $1,300, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Birmingham?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $40,000 in Birmingham.

Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Birmingham?

Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Birmingham under Alabama's (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax).

Aurora vs Birmingham Cost of Living 2026

Aurora

Colorado

$1,300/mo est.

Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,300 in Aurora, CO versus $1,190 in Birmingham, AL. Overall, Birmingham, AL is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Aurora, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $85,364 in Aurora, CO and $44,376 in Birmingham, AL — about 48% higher in Aurora, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Aurora, CO

Birmingham, AL

Rent

Studio

—

$857

1 Bedroom

$1,138

$1,004

+12% in Aurora, CO

2 Bedroom

$2,284

$1,005

+56% in Aurora, CO

3 Bedroom

$2,320

$1,188

+49% in Aurora, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$689,000

$138,600

+80% in Aurora, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$85,364

$44,376

+48% in Aurora, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$62,320

$47,770

+23% in Aurora, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.3 yr

35.9 yr

+0.6 yr in Birmingham, AL

Homeownership

46.0%

45.1%

+0.9 pp in Aurora, CO

Bachelor's+ (25+)

41.4%

30.7%

+10.7 pp in Aurora, CO

Avg Commute

18.7 min

21.5 min

+2.8 min in Birmingham, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

952.9

1,274.7

+34% in Birmingham, AL

Property Crime

3,368.1

4,233

+26% in Birmingham, AL

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

50.2°F

63.3°F

+13.1°F in Birmingham, AL

Annual Precipitation

15.6 in

53.7 in

+38.1 in in Birmingham, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.25/gal

$3.62/gal

+15% in Aurora, CO

Area: Colorado vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.75

—

Adult base one-way fare — RTD vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.2

16.8

+4% in Birmingham, AL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.92

$22.64

+90% in Birmingham, AL

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.00

+17% in Aurora, CO

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.75

+14% in Aurora, CO

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Birmingham, AL

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.45

+12% in Aurora, CO

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$1.90

+6% in Aurora, CO

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.62

+12% in Aurora, CO

Average prices — West vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / AL)

2.9%

+1.1 pp in AL

Income Tax (top rate)

4.40%

5.00%

+0.6 pp in AL

Aurora vs Birmingham — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Birmingham?: Birmingham, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,190 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Aurora, CO's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Birmingham?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $46,000 a year in Aurora versus $40,000 in Birmingham.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Birmingham?: Aurora is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Birmingham under Alabama's (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).