Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Cranston?

Birmingham, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,190 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Cranston, RI's $1,330, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Birmingham versus $41,000 in Cranston.

Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or Cranston?

Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Cranston under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax).

Birmingham vs Cranston Cost of Living 2026

Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/mo est.

Cranston

Rhode Island

$1,330/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 $1,330 in Cranston, RI. Overall, Birmingham, AL is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cranston, RI, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $44,376 in Birmingham, AL and $87,716 in Cranston, RI — about 49% higher in Cranston, RI. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Birmingham, AL

Cranston, RI

Rent

Studio

$857

—

1 Bedroom

$1,004

$1,032

+3% in Cranston, RI

2 Bedroom

$1,005

$1,438

+43% in Cranston, RI

3 Bedroom

$1,188

$1,688

+42% in Cranston, RI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$138,600

$348,800

+152% in Cranston, RI

Income

Median Household Income

$44,376

$87,716

+98% in Cranston, RI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,770

$53,680

+12% in Cranston, RI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.9 yr

40.1 yr

+4.2 yr in Cranston, RI

Homeownership

45.1%

67.3%

+22.2 pp in Cranston, RI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

30.7%

35.8%

+5.1 pp in Cranston, RI

Avg Commute

21.5 min

23.8 min

+2.3 min in Cranston, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,274.7

93.1

+93% in Birmingham, AL

Property Crime

4,233

1,065.4

+75% 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

51.6°F

+11.7°F in Birmingham, AL

Annual Precipitation

53.7 in

47.2 in

+6.5 in in Birmingham, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.94/gal

+9% in Cranston, RI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

29.2

+78% in Cranston, RI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.06

$25.75

+7% in Cranston, RI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Cranston, RI

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Cranston, RI

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Birmingham, AL

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Cranston, RI

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Cranston, RI

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Cranston, RI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AL / RI)

+3.0 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

5.00%

5.99%

+1.0 pp in RI

Birmingham vs Cranston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Cranston?: Birmingham, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,190 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Cranston, RI's $1,330, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Birmingham than in Cranston?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Birmingham versus $41,000 in Cranston.
Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or Cranston?: Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Cranston under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% 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).