Living Cost Compare
Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/mo est.

vs
Columbus

Georgia

$1,080/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 $1,080 in Columbus, GA. Overall, Columbus, GA is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Birmingham, AL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,376 in Birmingham, AL and $56,622 in Columbus, GA — about 22% higher in Columbus, GA. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax.

Birmingham, AL
Columbus, GA

Rent

Studio
$857
$826
+4% in Birmingham, AL
1 Bedroom
$1,004
$875
+13% in Birmingham, AL
2 Bedroom
$1,005
$991
+1% in Birmingham, AL
3 Bedroom
$1,188
$1,221
+3% in Columbus, GA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$138,600
$182,300
+32% in Columbus, GA

Income

Median Household Income
$44,376
$56,622
+28% in Columbus, GA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,770
$43,540
+9% in Birmingham, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
35.1 yr
+0.8 yr in Birmingham, AL
Homeownership
45.1%
50.2%
+5.1 pp in Columbus, GA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.7%
29.7%
+1.0 pp in Birmingham, AL
Avg Commute
21.5 min
20.2 min
+1.3 min in Birmingham, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,274.7
612.3
+52% in Birmingham, AL
Property Crime
4,233
2,273.4
+46% 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
65.7°F
+2.4°F in Columbus, GA
Annual Precipitation
53.7 in
46.8 in
+7.0 in in Birmingham, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.86/gal
+7% in Columbus, GA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.8
15.8
+6% in Birmingham, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.64
$33.28
+47% in Columbus, GA

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 / GA)
4%
4%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
5.19%
+0.2 pp in GA

Birmingham vs Columbus — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Columbus?
Columbus, GA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,080 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below Birmingham, AL's $1,190, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Birmingham than in Columbus?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Birmingham versus $35,000 in Columbus.
Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or Columbus?
Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Columbus under Georgia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% 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).