Living Cost Compare
Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/mo est.

vs
Dover

Delaware

$1,270/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 $1,270 in Dover, DE. Overall, Birmingham, AL is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dover, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,376 in Birmingham, AL and $58,336 in Dover, DE — about 24% higher in Dover, DE. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Birmingham, AL
Dover, DE

Rent

Studio
$857
$993
+16% in Dover, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,004
$1,047
+4% in Dover, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,005
$1,185
+18% in Dover, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,188
$1,634
+38% in Dover, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$138,600
$248,500
+79% in Dover, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$44,376
$58,336
+31% in Dover, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,770
$46,690
+2% in Birmingham, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
35.1 yr
+0.8 yr in Birmingham, AL
Homeownership
45.1%
47.0%
+1.9 pp in Dover, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.7%
27.1%
+3.6 pp in Birmingham, AL
Avg Commute
21.5 min
24.0 min
+2.5 min in Dover, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,274.7
1,025.3
+20% in Birmingham, AL
Property Crime
4,233
6,159.1
+46% in Dover, DE

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
56.9°F
+6.4°F in Birmingham, AL
Annual Precipitation
53.7 in
46.0 in
+7.7 in in Birmingham, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Dover, DE

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
19.3
+18% in Dover, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.06
$29.73
+24% in Dover, DE

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 / DE)
4%
None
+4.0 pp in AL
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
6.60%
+1.6 pp in DE

Birmingham vs Dover — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Dover?
Birmingham, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,190 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Dover, DE's $1,270, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Birmingham than in Dover?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Birmingham versus $42,000 in Dover.
Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or Dover?
Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Dover under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).