Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Eugene?

Birmingham, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,190 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Eugene, OR's $1,260, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Birmingham versus $43,000 in Eugene.

Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or Eugene?

Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Eugene under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Birmingham vs Eugene Cost of Living 2026

Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/mo est.

Eugene

Oregon

$1,260/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 $1,260 in Eugene, OR. Overall, Birmingham, AL is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Eugene, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,376 in Birmingham, AL and $63,836 in Eugene, OR — about 30% higher in Eugene, OR. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Birmingham, AL

Eugene, OR

Rent

Studio

$857

$1,011

+18% in Eugene, OR

1 Bedroom

$1,004

$1,080

+8% in Eugene, OR

2 Bedroom

$1,005

$1,411

+40% in Eugene, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,188

$1,674

+41% in Eugene, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$138,600

$435,400

+214% in Eugene, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$44,376

$63,836

+44% in Eugene, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,770

$49,680

+4% in Eugene, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.9 yr

35.4 yr

+0.5 yr in Birmingham, AL

Homeownership

45.1%

47.6%

+2.5 pp in Eugene, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

30.7%

44.2%

+13.5 pp in Eugene, OR

Avg Commute

21.5 min

18.6 min

+2.9 min in Birmingham, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,274.7

319.6

+75% in Birmingham, AL

Property Crime

4,233

3,348.9

+21% 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

52.5°F

+10.8°F in Birmingham, AL

Annual Precipitation

53.7 in

46.1 in

+7.6 in in Birmingham, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$5.09/gal

+40% in Eugene, OR

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.8

16.3

+3% in Birmingham, AL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.64

$20.59

+9% in Birmingham, AL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Eugene, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Eugene, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Birmingham, AL

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Eugene, OR

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Eugene, OR

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Eugene, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AL / OR)

None

+4.0 pp in AL

Income Tax (top rate)

5.00%

9.90%

+4.9 pp in OR

Birmingham vs Eugene — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Eugene?: Birmingham, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,190 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Eugene, OR's $1,260, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Birmingham than in Eugene?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Birmingham versus $43,000 in Eugene.
Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or Eugene?: Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Eugene under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% 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).