Living Cost Compare
Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/mo est.

vs
New Orleans

Louisiana

$1,170/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 $1,170 in New Orleans, LA. Overall, New Orleans, LA is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Birmingham, AL, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $44,376 in Birmingham, AL and $55,339 in New Orleans, LA — about 20% higher in New Orleans, LA. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Louisiana has a top state income tax rate of 3.00% and a 5% state sales tax.

Birmingham, AL
New Orleans, LA

Rent

Studio
$857
$953
+11% in New Orleans, LA
1 Bedroom
$1,004
$1,019
+1% in New Orleans, LA
2 Bedroom
$1,005
$1,287
+28% in New Orleans, LA
3 Bedroom
$1,188
$1,392
+17% in New Orleans, LA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$138,600
$296,400
+114% in New Orleans, LA

Income

Median Household Income
$44,376
$55,339
+25% in New Orleans, LA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,770
$47,290
+1% in Birmingham, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
38.4 yr
+2.5 yr in New Orleans, LA
Homeownership
45.1%
50.5%
+5.4 pp in New Orleans, LA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.7%
42.0%
+11.3 pp in New Orleans, LA
Avg Commute
21.5 min
22.7 min
+1.2 min in New Orleans, LA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,274.7
1,361.1
+7% in New Orleans, LA
Property Crime
4,233
5,089.6
+20% in New Orleans, LA

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
70.6°F
+7.3°F in New Orleans, LA
Annual Precipitation
53.7 in
62.3 in
+8.6 in in New Orleans, LA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.62/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.25

Adult base one-way fare — — vs New Orleans RTA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.8
14.2
+16% in Birmingham, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.64
$16.62
+27% in Birmingham, AL

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 / LA)
4%
5%
+1.0 pp in LA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
3.00%
+2.0 pp in AL

Birmingham vs New Orleans — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or New Orleans?
New Orleans, LA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Birmingham, AL's $1,190, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Birmingham than in New Orleans?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Birmingham versus $41,000 in New Orleans.
Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or New Orleans?
Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); New Orleans under Louisiana's (a top state income tax rate of 3.00% 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).