Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Henderson?

Birmingham, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,190 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Henderson, NV's $1,580, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Birmingham versus $57,000 in Henderson.

Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or Henderson?

Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Henderson under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax).

Birmingham vs Henderson Cost of Living 2026

Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/mo est.

Henderson

Nevada

$1,580/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 $1,580 in Henderson, NV. Overall, Birmingham, AL is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Henderson, NV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,376 in Birmingham, AL and $88,654 in Henderson, NV — about 50% higher in Henderson, NV. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Birmingham, AL

Henderson, NV

Rent

Studio

$857

$1,442

+68% in Henderson, NV

1 Bedroom

$1,004

$1,437

+43% in Henderson, NV

2 Bedroom

$1,005

$1,694

+69% in Henderson, NV

3 Bedroom

$1,188

$1,982

+67% in Henderson, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$138,600

$465,000

+235% in Henderson, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$44,376

$88,654

+100% in Henderson, NV

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,770

$46,670

+2% in Birmingham, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.9 yr

42.5 yr

+6.6 yr in Henderson, NV

Homeownership

45.1%

65.6%

+20.5 pp in Henderson, NV

Bachelor's+ (25+)

30.7%

36.8%

+6.1 pp in Henderson, NV

Avg Commute

21.5 min

24.7 min

+3.2 min in Henderson, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,274.7

271.8

+79% in Birmingham, AL

Property Crime

4,233

1,725.7

+59% 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

69.4°F

+6.1°F in Henderson, NV

Annual Precipitation

53.7 in

4.2 in

+49.5 in in Birmingham, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$5.09/gal

+40% in Henderson, NV

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.8

13.6

+19% in Birmingham, AL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.64

$12.09

+47% in Birmingham, AL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Henderson, NV

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Henderson, NV

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Birmingham, AL

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Henderson, NV

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Henderson, NV

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Henderson, NV

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AL / NV)

6.85%

+2.8 pp in NV

Income Tax (top rate)

5.00%

None

+5.0 pp in AL

Birmingham vs Henderson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Henderson?: Birmingham, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,190 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Henderson, NV's $1,580, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Birmingham than in Henderson?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Birmingham versus $57,000 in Henderson.
Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or Henderson?: Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Henderson under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).