Living Cost Compare
Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/mo est.

vs
Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,410/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 $1,410 in Philadelphia, PA. Overall, Birmingham, AL is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,376 in Birmingham, AL and $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA — about 27% higher in Philadelphia, PA. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Birmingham, AL
Philadelphia, PA

Rent

Studio
$857
$1,126
+31% in Philadelphia, PA
1 Bedroom
$1,004
$1,189
+18% in Philadelphia, PA
2 Bedroom
$1,005
$1,394
+39% in Philadelphia, PA
3 Bedroom
$1,188
$1,406
+18% in Philadelphia, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$138,600
$232,400
+68% in Philadelphia, PA

Income

Median Household Income
$44,376
$60,698
+37% in Philadelphia, PA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,770
$54,310
+14% in Philadelphia, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
35.1 yr
+0.8 yr in Birmingham, AL
Homeownership
45.1%
52.3%
+7.2 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.7%
34.6%
+3.9 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Avg Commute
21.5 min
32.0 min
+10.5 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,274.7
917.1
+28% in Birmingham, AL
Property Crime
4,233
4,615.3
+9% in Philadelphia, PA

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
57.1°F
+6.2°F in Birmingham, AL
Annual Precipitation
53.7 in
48.5 in
+5.2 in in Birmingham, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.86/gal
+7% in Philadelphia, PA

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.8
21.6
+29% in Philadelphia, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.64
$19.17
+15% in Birmingham, AL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Philadelphia, PA
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in Philadelphia, PA
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Birmingham, AL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in Philadelphia, PA
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in Philadelphia, PA
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Philadelphia, PA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AL / PA)
4%
6%
+2.0 pp in PA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
3.07%
+1.9 pp in AL

Birmingham vs Philadelphia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Philadelphia?
Birmingham, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,190 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Birmingham than in Philadelphia?
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 Philadelphia.
Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or Philadelphia?
Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% 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).