Living Cost Compare
Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/mo est.

vs
Norman

Oklahoma

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Norman, OK. Overall, Norman, OK 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 $65,060 in Norman, OK — about 32% higher in Norman, OK. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Birmingham, AL
Norman, OK

Rent

Studio
$857
$820
+4% in Birmingham, AL
1 Bedroom
$1,004
$863
+14% in Birmingham, AL
2 Bedroom
$1,005
$1,056
+5% in Norman, OK
3 Bedroom
$1,188
$1,377
+16% in Norman, OK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$138,600
$239,300
+73% in Norman, OK

Income

Median Household Income
$44,376
$65,060
+47% in Norman, OK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,770
$47,230
+1% in Birmingham, AL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
31.6 yr
+4.3 yr in Birmingham, AL
Homeownership
45.1%
52.7%
+7.6 pp in Norman, OK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.7%
46.2%
+15.5 pp in Norman, OK
Avg Commute
21.5 min
22.2 min
+0.7 min in Norman, OK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,274.7
268.6
+79% in Birmingham, AL
Property Crime
4,233
2,294.1
+46% 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
61.5°F
+1.8°F in Birmingham, AL
Annual Precipitation
53.7 in
36.5 in
+17.2 in in Birmingham, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Norman, OK

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.8
13.4
+20% in Birmingham, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.64
$27.15
+20% in Norman, OK

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 / OK)
4%
4.5%
+0.5 pp in OK
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
4.50%
+0.5 pp in AL

Birmingham vs Norman — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Norman?
Norman, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (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 Norman?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Birmingham versus $35,000 in Norman.
Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or Norman?
Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Norman under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% 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).