Living Cost Compare
Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/mo est.

vs
Jacksonville

Florida

$1,320/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 $1,320 in Jacksonville, FL. Overall, Birmingham, AL is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Jacksonville, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,376 in Birmingham, AL and $66,981 in Jacksonville, FL — about 34% higher in Jacksonville, FL. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Birmingham, AL
Jacksonville, FL

Rent

Studio
$857
$1,127
+32% in Jacksonville, FL
1 Bedroom
$1,004
$1,146
+14% in Jacksonville, FL
2 Bedroom
$1,005
$1,385
+38% in Jacksonville, FL
3 Bedroom
$1,188
$1,545
+30% in Jacksonville, FL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$138,600
$266,100
+92% in Jacksonville, FL

Income

Median Household Income
$44,376
$66,981
+51% in Jacksonville, FL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,770
$48,830
+2% in Jacksonville, FL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
36.4 yr
+0.5 yr in Jacksonville, FL
Homeownership
45.1%
57.4%
+12.3 pp in Jacksonville, FL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.7%
31.8%
+1.1 pp in Jacksonville, FL
Avg Commute
21.5 min
24.1 min
+2.6 min in Jacksonville, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,274.7
558.4
+56% in Birmingham, AL
Property Crime
4,233
2,600.1
+39% 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
70.2°F
+6.9°F in Jacksonville, FL
Annual Precipitation
53.7 in
49.2 in
+4.5 in in Birmingham, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.77/gal
+4% in Jacksonville, FL

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.8
15.2
+10% in Birmingham, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.64
$23.62
+4% in Jacksonville, FL

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 / FL)
4%
6%
+2.0 pp in FL
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
None
+5.0 pp in AL

Birmingham vs Jacksonville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Jacksonville?
Birmingham, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,190 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Jacksonville, FL's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Birmingham than in Jacksonville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Birmingham versus $46,000 in Jacksonville.
Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or Jacksonville?
Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Jacksonville under Florida's (no state income tax 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).