Living Cost Compare
Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/mo est.

vs
Minneapolis

Minnesota

$1,370/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 $1,370 in Minneapolis, MN. Overall, Birmingham, AL is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Minneapolis, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,376 in Birmingham, AL and $80,269 in Minneapolis, MN — about 45% higher in Minneapolis, MN. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Birmingham, AL
Minneapolis, MN

Rent

Studio
$857
$992
+16% in Minneapolis, MN
1 Bedroom
$1,004
$1,192
+19% in Minneapolis, MN
2 Bedroom
$1,005
$1,555
+55% in Minneapolis, MN
3 Bedroom
$1,188
$1,761
+48% in Minneapolis, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$138,600
$345,600
+149% in Minneapolis, MN

Income

Median Household Income
$44,376
$80,269
+81% in Minneapolis, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,770
$59,320
+24% in Minneapolis, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
33.0 yr
+2.9 yr in Birmingham, AL
Homeownership
45.1%
48.0%
+2.9 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.7%
54.5%
+23.8 pp in Minneapolis, MN
Avg Commute
21.5 min
22.5 min
+1.0 min in Minneapolis, MN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,274.7
1,168.5
+8% in Birmingham, AL
Property Crime
4,233
5,183.1
+22% in Minneapolis, MN

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
47.4°F
+15.9°F in Birmingham, AL
Annual Precipitation
53.7 in
32.8 in
+20.9 in in Birmingham, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.95/gal
+9% in Minneapolis, MN

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Minnesota.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.8
16.9
+1% in Minneapolis, MN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.64
$14.95
+34% in Birmingham, AL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Minneapolis, MN
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Birmingham, AL
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Minneapolis, MN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Minneapolis, MN
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Minneapolis, MN
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AL / MN)
4%
6.875%
+2.9 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
9.85%
+4.8 pp in MN

Birmingham vs Minneapolis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Minneapolis?
Birmingham, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,190 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Minneapolis, MN's $1,370, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Birmingham than in Minneapolis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Birmingham versus $48,000 in Minneapolis.
Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or Minneapolis?
Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Minneapolis under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).