Living Cost Compare
Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/mo est.

vs
Fort Worth

Texas

$1,390/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 $1,390 in Fort Worth, TX. Overall, Birmingham, AL is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fort Worth, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,376 in Birmingham, AL and $76,602 in Fort Worth, TX — about 42% higher in Fort Worth, 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
Fort Worth, TX

Rent

Studio
$857
$1,310
+53% in Fort Worth, TX
1 Bedroom
$1,004
$1,191
+19% in Fort Worth, TX
2 Bedroom
$1,005
$1,393
+39% in Fort Worth, TX
3 Bedroom
$1,188
$1,721
+45% in Fort Worth, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$138,600
$277,300
+100% in Fort Worth, TX

Income

Median Household Income
$44,376
$76,602
+73% in Fort Worth, TX
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,770
$51,440
+8% in Fort Worth, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
33.4 yr
+2.5 yr in Birmingham, AL
Homeownership
45.1%
56.7%
+11.6 pp in Fort Worth, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.7%
31.7%
+1.0 pp in Fort Worth, TX
Avg Commute
21.5 min
26.9 min
+5.4 min in Fort Worth, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,274.7
465.2
+64% in Birmingham, AL
Property Crime
4,233
2,735.7
+35% 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 Fort Worth, TX
Annual Precipitation
53.7 in
36.1 in
+17.6 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)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.8
16.4
+2% in Birmingham, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.64
$30.48
+35% in Fort Worth, 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 Fort Worth — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Fort Worth?
Birmingham, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,190 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Fort Worth, TX's $1,390, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Birmingham than in Fort Worth?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Birmingham versus $48,000 in Fort Worth.
Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or Fort Worth?
Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Fort Worth 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).