Living Cost Compare
Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/mo est.

vs
Manchester

New Hampshire

$1,430/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 $1,430 in Manchester, NH. Overall, Birmingham, AL is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Manchester, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,376 in Birmingham, AL and $77,415 in Manchester, NH — about 43% higher in Manchester, NH. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Birmingham, AL
Manchester, NH

Rent

Studio
$857
$880
+3% in Manchester, NH
1 Bedroom
$1,004
$1,150
+15% in Manchester, NH
2 Bedroom
$1,005
$1,593
+59% in Manchester, NH
3 Bedroom
$1,188
$1,661
+40% in Manchester, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$138,600
$336,300
+143% in Manchester, NH

Income

Median Household Income
$44,376
$77,415
+74% in Manchester, NH
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,770
$56,530
+18% in Manchester, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
37.9 yr
+2.0 yr in Manchester, NH
Homeownership
45.1%
49.3%
+4.2 pp in Manchester, NH
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.7%
33.5%
+2.8 pp in Manchester, NH
Avg Commute
21.5 min
23.8 min
+2.3 min in Manchester, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,274.7
339.5
+73% in Birmingham, AL
Property Crime
4,233
1,691.4
+60% 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
49.2°F
+14.1°F in Birmingham, AL
Annual Precipitation
53.7 in
44.6 in
+9.1 in in Birmingham, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.86/gal
+7% in Manchester, NH

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.8
27.3
+63% in Manchester, NH
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.64
$24.53
+8% in Manchester, NH

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Manchester, NH
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in Manchester, NH
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Birmingham, AL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in Manchester, NH
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in Manchester, NH
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Manchester, NH

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AL / NH)
4%
None
+4.0 pp in AL
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
None
+5.0 pp in AL

Birmingham vs Manchester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Manchester?
Birmingham, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,190 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Manchester, NH's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Birmingham than in Manchester?
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 Manchester.
Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or Manchester?
Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Manchester under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no 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).