Living Cost Compare
Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/mo est.

vs
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Newark, DE. Overall, Birmingham, AL is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,376 in Birmingham, AL and $71,373 in Newark, DE — about 38% higher in Newark, DE. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Birmingham, AL
Newark, DE

Rent

Studio
$857
$1,649
+92% in Newark, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,004
$1,391
+39% in Newark, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,005
$1,513
+51% in Newark, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,188
$1,916
+61% in Newark, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$138,600
$357,600
+158% in Newark, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$44,376
$71,373
+61% in Newark, DE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,770
$54,310
+14% in Newark, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
22.0 yr
+13.9 yr in Birmingham, AL
Homeownership
45.1%
50.3%
+5.2 pp in Newark, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.7%
57.5%
+26.8 pp in Newark, DE
Avg Commute
21.5 min
19.6 min
+1.9 min in Birmingham, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,274.7
326.3
+74% in Birmingham, AL
Property Crime
4,233
2,024.6
+52% 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
54.9°F
+8.4°F in Birmingham, AL
Annual Precipitation
53.7 in
43.1 in
+10.6 in in Birmingham, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Newark, DE

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
19.3
+18% in Newark, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.06
$29.73
+24% in Newark, DE

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 / DE)
4%
None
+4.0 pp in AL
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
6.60%
+1.6 pp in DE

Birmingham vs Newark — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Newark?
Birmingham, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,190 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Newark, DE's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Birmingham than in Newark?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Birmingham versus $56,000 in Newark.
Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or Newark?
Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Newark under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% 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).