Living Cost Compare
Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/mo est.

vs
Las Cruces

New Mexico

$940/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 $940 in Las Cruces, NM. Overall, Las Cruces, NM is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Birmingham, AL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,376 in Birmingham, AL and $55,176 in Las Cruces, NM — about 20% higher in Las Cruces, NM. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; New Mexico has a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% state sales tax.

Birmingham, AL
Las Cruces, NM

Rent

Studio
$857
$597
+30% in Birmingham, AL
1 Bedroom
$1,004
$793
+21% in Birmingham, AL
2 Bedroom
$1,005
$888
+12% in Birmingham, AL
3 Bedroom
$1,188
$1,177
+1% in Birmingham, AL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$138,600
$217,400
+57% in Las Cruces, NM

Income

Median Household Income
$44,376
$55,176
+24% in Las Cruces, NM
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,770
$42,070
+12% in Birmingham, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
32.7 yr
+3.2 yr in Birmingham, AL
Homeownership
45.1%
55.6%
+10.5 pp in Las Cruces, NM
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.7%
37.3%
+6.6 pp in Las Cruces, NM
Avg Commute
21.5 min
18.7 min
+2.8 min in Birmingham, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,274.7
726
+43% in Birmingham, AL
Property Crime
4,233
4,899.2
+16% in Las Cruces, NM

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
58.8°F
+4.5°F in Birmingham, AL
Annual Precipitation
53.7 in
—

Gas

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

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.8
14.1
+16% in Birmingham, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.64
$11.90
+47% in Birmingham, AL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in Las Cruces, NM
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in Las Cruces, NM
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Birmingham, AL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in Las Cruces, NM
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in Las Cruces, NM
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Las Cruces, NM

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AL / NM)
4%
4.875%
+0.9 pp in NM
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
5.90%
+0.9 pp in NM

Birmingham vs Las Cruces — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Las Cruces?
Las Cruces, NM is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Birmingham, AL's $1,190, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Birmingham than in Las Cruces?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Birmingham versus $32,000 in Las Cruces.
Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or Las Cruces?
Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Las Cruces under New Mexico's (a top state income tax rate of 5.90% and a 4.875% 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).