Living Cost Compare
Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/mo est.

vs
El Paso

Texas

$1,020/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 $1,020 in El Paso, TX. Overall, El Paso, TX is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Birmingham, AL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,376 in Birmingham, AL and $58,734 in El Paso, TX — about 24% higher in El Paso, TX. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Birmingham, AL
El Paso, TX

Rent

Studio
$857
$707
+18% in Birmingham, AL
1 Bedroom
$1,004
$816
+19% in Birmingham, AL
2 Bedroom
$1,005
$993
+1% in Birmingham, AL
3 Bedroom
$1,188
$1,252
+5% in El Paso, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$138,600
$171,700
+24% in El Paso, TX

Income

Median Household Income
$44,376
$58,734
+32% in El Paso, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,770
$39,510
+17% in Birmingham, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
34.1 yr
+1.8 yr in Birmingham, AL
Homeownership
45.1%
60.2%
+15.1 pp in El Paso, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.7%
27.5%
+3.2 pp in Birmingham, AL
Avg Commute
21.5 min
23.7 min
+2.2 min in El Paso, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,274.7
319.7
+75% in Birmingham, AL
Property Crime
4,233
1,509.3
+64% 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
64.6°F
+1.3°F in El Paso, TX
Annual Precipitation
53.7 in
9.7 in
+44.0 in in Birmingham, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.62/gal
about equal

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.8
16.4
+2% in Birmingham, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.64
$30.48
+35% in El Paso, TX

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 / TX)
4%
6.25%
+2.3 pp in TX
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
None
+5.0 pp in AL

Birmingham vs El Paso — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or El Paso?
El Paso, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Birmingham, AL's $1,190, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Birmingham than in El Paso?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Birmingham versus $33,000 in El Paso.
Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or El Paso?
Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); El Paso under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).