Living Cost Compare
Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/mo est.

vs
Morgantown

West Virginia

$950/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 $950 in Morgantown, WV. Overall, Morgantown, WV is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Birmingham, AL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,376 in Birmingham, AL and $42,245 in Morgantown, WV — about 5% higher in Birmingham, AL. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax.

Birmingham, AL
Morgantown, WV

Rent

Studio
$857
$836
+2% in Birmingham, AL
1 Bedroom
$1,004
$770
+23% in Birmingham, AL
2 Bedroom
$1,005
$969
+4% in Birmingham, AL
3 Bedroom
$1,188
$1,038
+13% in Birmingham, AL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$138,600
$238,200
+72% in Morgantown, WV

Income

Median Household Income
$44,376
$42,245
+5% in Birmingham, AL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,770
$47,350
+1% in Birmingham, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
24.0 yr
+11.9 yr in Birmingham, AL
Homeownership
45.1%
44.3%
+0.8 pp in Birmingham, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.7%
58.1%
+27.4 pp in Morgantown, WV
Avg Commute
21.5 min
17.3 min
+4.2 min in Birmingham, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,274.7
216.3
+83% in Birmingham, AL
Property Crime
4,233
1,976.4
+53% 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
53.0°F
+10.3°F in Birmingham, AL
Annual Precipitation
53.7 in
41.8 in
+11.9 in in Birmingham, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Morgantown, WV

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
15.4
+6% in Birmingham, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.06
$24.68
+3% in Morgantown, WV

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 / WV)
4%
6%
+2.0 pp in WV
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
4.82%
+0.2 pp in AL

Birmingham vs Morgantown — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Morgantown?
Morgantown, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below Birmingham, AL's $1,190, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Birmingham than in Morgantown?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Birmingham versus $31,000 in Morgantown.
Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or Morgantown?
Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Morgantown under West Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% 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).