Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Milwaukee?

Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Birmingham, AL's $1,190, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Birmingham than in Milwaukee?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Birmingham versus $34,000 in Milwaukee.

Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or Milwaukee?

Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Milwaukee under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax).

Birmingham vs Milwaukee Cost of Living 2026

Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/mo est.

Milwaukee

Wisconsin

$1,040/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 $1,040 in Milwaukee, WI. Overall, Milwaukee, WI is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Birmingham, AL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,376 in Birmingham, AL and $51,888 in Milwaukee, WI — about 14% higher in Milwaukee, WI. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Birmingham, AL

Milwaukee, WI

Rent

Studio

$857

$841

+2% in Birmingham, AL

1 Bedroom

$1,004

$849

+15% in Birmingham, AL

2 Bedroom

$1,005

$1,031

+3% in Milwaukee, WI

3 Bedroom

$1,188

$1,193

+0% in Milwaukee, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$138,600

$172,000

+24% in Milwaukee, WI

Income

Median Household Income

$44,376

$51,888

+17% in Milwaukee, WI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,770

$51,160

+7% in Milwaukee, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.9 yr

32.2 yr

+3.7 yr in Birmingham, AL

Homeownership

45.1%

41.5%

+3.6 pp in Birmingham, AL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

30.7%

26.6%

+4.1 pp in Birmingham, AL

Avg Commute

21.5 min

22.4 min

+0.9 min in Milwaukee, WI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,274.7

1,452.3

+14% in Milwaukee, WI

Property Crime

4,233

2,772.2

+35% 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

47.9°F

+15.4°F in Birmingham, AL

Annual Precipitation

53.7 in

34.8 in

+19.0 in in Birmingham, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.94/gal

+9% in Milwaukee, WI

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.8

19.7

+18% in Milwaukee, WI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.64

$11.79

+48% in Birmingham, AL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Milwaukee, WI

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Birmingham, AL

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Milwaukee, WI

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Milwaukee, WI

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Milwaukee, WI

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AL / WI)

+1.0 pp in WI

Income Tax (top rate)

5.00%

7.65%

+2.7 pp in WI

Birmingham vs Milwaukee — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Milwaukee?: Milwaukee, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,040 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Birmingham, AL's $1,190, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Birmingham than in Milwaukee?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Birmingham versus $34,000 in Milwaukee.
Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or Milwaukee?: Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Milwaukee under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% 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).