Living Cost Compare
Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/mo est.

vs
Huntsville

Alabama

$1,090/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 $1,090 in Huntsville, AL. Overall, Huntsville, AL is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Birmingham, AL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,376 in Birmingham, AL and $70,778 in Huntsville, AL — about 37% higher in Huntsville, AL. Both cities are in Alabama, so state taxes are identical: a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Birmingham, AL
Huntsville, AL

Rent

Studio
$857
$815
+5% in Birmingham, AL
1 Bedroom
$1,004
$900
+10% in Birmingham, AL
2 Bedroom
$1,005
$1,080
+7% in Huntsville, AL
3 Bedroom
$1,188
$1,251
+5% in Huntsville, AL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$138,600
$263,100
+90% in Huntsville, AL

Income

Median Household Income
$44,376
$70,778
+59% in Huntsville, AL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,770
$51,740
+8% in Huntsville, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
36.4 yr
+0.5 yr in Huntsville, AL
Homeownership
45.1%
58.1%
+13.0 pp in Huntsville, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.7%
46.2%
+15.5 pp in Huntsville, AL
Avg Commute
21.5 min
19.3 min
+2.2 min in Birmingham, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,274.7
483.2
+62% in Birmingham, AL
Property Crime
4,233
2,395.7
+43% 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
62.1°F
+1.2°F in Birmingham, AL
Annual Precipitation
53.7 in
54.3 in
+0.6 in in Huntsville, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.62/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
16.4
about equal
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.06
$24.06
about equal

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 / AL)
4%
4%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
5.00%
about equal

Birmingham vs Huntsville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Huntsville?
Huntsville, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,090 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Birmingham, AL's $1,190, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Birmingham than in Huntsville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Birmingham versus $36,000 in Huntsville.
Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or Huntsville?
Neither — both are in Alabama, so they share the same state tax rates: a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).