Living Cost Compare
Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/mo est.

vs
Greenville

South Carolina

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Greenville, SC. Overall, Birmingham, AL is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Greenville, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,376 in Birmingham, AL and $68,460 in Greenville, SC — about 35% higher in Greenville, SC. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax.

Birmingham, AL
Greenville, SC

Rent

Studio
$857
$1,175
+37% in Greenville, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,004
$1,113
+11% in Greenville, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,005
$1,325
+32% in Greenville, SC
3 Bedroom
$1,188
$1,550
+30% in Greenville, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$138,600
$453,300
+227% in Greenville, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$44,376
$68,460
+54% in Greenville, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,770
$46,580
+2% in Birmingham, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
34.8 yr
+1.1 yr in Birmingham, AL
Homeownership
45.1%
41.2%
+3.9 pp in Birmingham, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.7%
55.0%
+24.3 pp in Greenville, SC
Avg Commute
21.5 min
19.9 min
+1.6 min in Birmingham, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,274.7
649.8
+49% in Birmingham, AL
Property Crime
4,233
3,479.3
+18% 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
60.5°F
+2.8°F in Birmingham, AL
Annual Precipitation
53.7 in
50.8 in
+2.9 in in Birmingham, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Greenville, SC

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
15.6
+5% in Birmingham, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.06
$29.07
+21% in Greenville, SC

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 / SC)
4%
6%
+2.0 pp in SC
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
6.00%
+1.0 pp in SC

Birmingham vs Greenville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Greenville?
Birmingham, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,190 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Greenville, SC's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Birmingham than in Greenville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Birmingham versus $45,000 in Greenville.
Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or Greenville?
Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Greenville under South Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% 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).