Living Cost Compare
Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/mo est.

vs
Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,190 in Birmingham, AL versus $1,620 in Charleston, SC. Overall, Birmingham, AL is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,376 in Birmingham, AL and $90,038 in Charleston, SC — about 51% higher in Charleston, SC. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax.

Birmingham, AL
Charleston, SC

Rent

Studio
$857
$1,579
+84% in Charleston, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,004
$1,430
+42% in Charleston, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,005
$1,684
+68% in Charleston, SC
3 Bedroom
$1,188
$2,076
+75% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$138,600
$469,100
+238% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$44,376
$90,038
+103% in Charleston, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,770
$49,150
+3% in Charleston, SC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
36.1 yr
+0.2 yr in Charleston, SC
Homeownership
45.1%
55.6%
+10.5 pp in Charleston, SC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.7%
57.7%
+27.0 pp in Charleston, SC
Avg Commute
21.5 min
23.8 min
+2.3 min in Charleston, SC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,274.7
358.8
+72% in Birmingham, AL
Property Crime
4,233
2,035.1
+52% 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
63.3°F
66.7°F
+3.4°F in Charleston, SC
Annual Precipitation
53.7 in
44.4 in
+9.3 in in Birmingham, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.86/gal
+7% in Charleston, SC

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.8
16.2
+4% in Birmingham, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.64
$27.35
+21% in Charleston, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AL / SC)
4%
6%
+2.0 pp in SC
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
6.00%
+1.0 pp in SC

Birmingham vs Charleston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Charleston?
Birmingham, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,190 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Birmingham than in Charleston?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Birmingham versus $57,000 in Charleston.
Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or Charleston?
Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Charleston under South Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% 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).