Living Cost Compare
Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/mo est.

vs
Green Bay

Wisconsin

$920/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 $920 in Green Bay, WI. Overall, Green Bay, WI is roughly 23% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Birmingham, AL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,376 in Birmingham, AL and $62,546 in Green Bay, WI — about 29% higher in Green Bay, WI. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Birmingham, AL
Green Bay, WI

Rent

Studio
$857
$707
+18% in Birmingham, AL
1 Bedroom
$1,004
$730
+27% in Birmingham, AL
2 Bedroom
$1,005
$956
+5% in Birmingham, AL
3 Bedroom
$1,188
$1,287
+8% in Green Bay, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$138,600
$191,500
+38% in Green Bay, WI

Income

Median Household Income
$44,376
$62,546
+41% in Green Bay, WI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,770
$49,940
+5% in Green Bay, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
35.7 yr
+0.2 yr in Birmingham, AL
Homeownership
45.1%
55.9%
+10.8 pp in Green Bay, WI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.7%
25.5%
+5.2 pp in Birmingham, AL
Avg Commute
21.5 min
18.9 min
+2.6 min in Birmingham, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,274.7
501.7
+61% in Birmingham, AL
Property Crime
4,233
1,331.2
+69% 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
44.3°F
+19.0°F in Birmingham, AL
Annual Precipitation
53.7 in
29.5 in
+24.2 in in Birmingham, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Green Bay, WI

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.8
19.7
+18% in Green Bay, WI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.64
$11.79
+48% in Birmingham, AL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Green Bay, WI
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Birmingham, AL
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Green Bay, WI
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Green Bay, WI
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Green Bay, WI
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AL / WI)
4%
5%
+1.0 pp in WI
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
7.65%
+2.7 pp in WI

Birmingham vs Green Bay — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Green Bay?
Green Bay, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 23% below Birmingham, AL's $1,190, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Birmingham than in Green Bay?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Birmingham versus $29,000 in Green Bay.
Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or Green Bay?
Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Green Bay under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% 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).