Living Cost Compare
Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/mo est.

vs
Phoenix

Arizona

$1,430/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 $1,430 in Phoenix, AZ. Overall, Birmingham, AL is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Phoenix, AZ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,376 in Birmingham, AL and $77,041 in Phoenix, AZ — about 42% higher in Phoenix, AZ. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Birmingham, AL
Phoenix, AZ

Rent

Studio
$857
$1,127
+32% in Phoenix, AZ
1 Bedroom
$1,004
$1,253
+25% in Phoenix, AZ
2 Bedroom
$1,005
$1,493
+49% in Phoenix, AZ
3 Bedroom
$1,188
$1,771
+49% in Phoenix, AZ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$138,600
$381,900
+176% in Phoenix, AZ

Income

Median Household Income
$44,376
$77,041
+74% in Phoenix, AZ
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,770
$51,380
+8% in Phoenix, AZ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
34.8 yr
+1.1 yr in Birmingham, AL
Homeownership
45.1%
57.1%
+12.0 pp in Phoenix, AZ
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.7%
32.3%
+1.6 pp in Phoenix, AZ
Avg Commute
21.5 min
25.7 min
+4.2 min in Phoenix, AZ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,274.7
799.6
+37% in Birmingham, AL
Property Crime
4,233
2,338.9
+45% 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
75.1°F
+11.8°F in Phoenix, AZ
Annual Precipitation
53.7 in
8.2 in
+45.5 in in Birmingham, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$5.09/gal
+40% in Phoenix, AZ

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.8
15.2
+9% in Birmingham, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.64
$22.44
+1% in Birmingham, AL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in Phoenix, AZ
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in Phoenix, AZ
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Birmingham, AL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in Phoenix, AZ
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in Phoenix, AZ
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Phoenix, AZ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AL / AZ)
4%
5.6%
+1.6 pp in AZ
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
2.50%
+2.5 pp in AL

Birmingham vs Phoenix — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Phoenix?
Birmingham, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,190 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Phoenix, AZ's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Birmingham than in Phoenix?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Birmingham versus $50,000 in Phoenix.
Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or Phoenix?
Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Phoenix under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).