Living Cost Compare
Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/mo est.

vs
Louisville

Kentucky

$1,060/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 $1,060 in Louisville, KY. Overall, Louisville, KY is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Birmingham, AL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,376 in Birmingham, AL and $64,731 in Louisville, KY — about 31% higher in Louisville, KY. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax.

Birmingham, AL
Louisville, KY

Rent

Studio
$857
$786
+8% in Birmingham, AL
1 Bedroom
$1,004
$877
+13% in Birmingham, AL
2 Bedroom
$1,005
$1,096
+9% in Louisville, KY
3 Bedroom
$1,188
$1,299
+9% in Louisville, KY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$138,600
$221,500
+60% in Louisville, KY

Income

Median Household Income
$44,376
$64,731
+46% in Louisville, KY
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,770
$48,370
+1% in Louisville, KY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
37.7 yr
+1.8 yr in Louisville, KY
Homeownership
45.1%
60.6%
+15.5 pp in Louisville, KY
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.7%
33.4%
+2.7 pp in Louisville, KY
Avg Commute
21.5 min
22.7 min
+1.2 min in Louisville, KY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,274.7
763.4
+40% in Birmingham, AL
Property Crime
4,233
3,536.6
+16% 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
58.2°F
+5.1°F in Birmingham, AL
Annual Precipitation
53.7 in
44.9 in
+8.8 in in Birmingham, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Louisville, KY

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.8
15.0
+11% in Birmingham, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.64
$29.48
+30% in Louisville, KY

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 / KY)
4%
6%
+2.0 pp in KY
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
3.50%
+1.5 pp in AL

Birmingham vs Louisville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Louisville?
Louisville, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,060 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Birmingham, AL's $1,190, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Birmingham than in Louisville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Birmingham versus $35,000 in Louisville.
Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or Louisville?
Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Louisville under Kentucky's (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% 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).