Living Cost Compare
Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/mo est.

vs
Portland

Maine

$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 Portland, ME. Overall, Birmingham, AL is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, ME, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,376 in Birmingham, AL and $76,174 in Portland, ME — about 42% higher in Portland, ME. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Maine has a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Birmingham, AL
Portland, ME

Rent

Studio
$857
$1,038
+21% in Portland, ME
1 Bedroom
$1,004
$1,331
+33% in Portland, ME
2 Bedroom
$1,005
$1,664
+66% in Portland, ME
3 Bedroom
$1,188
$1,919
+62% in Portland, ME

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$138,600
$452,600
+227% in Portland, ME

Income

Median Household Income
$44,376
$76,174
+72% in Portland, ME
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,770
$56,960
+19% in Portland, ME

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
37.5 yr
+1.6 yr in Portland, ME
Homeownership
45.1%
46.7%
+1.6 pp in Portland, ME
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.7%
59.2%
+28.5 pp in Portland, ME
Avg Commute
21.5 min
19.9 min
+1.6 min in Birmingham, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,274.7
272.7
+79% in Birmingham, AL
Property Crime
4,233
2,513.3
+41% 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
46.5°F
+16.8°F in Birmingham, AL
Annual Precipitation
53.7 in
47.3 in
+6.5 in in Birmingham, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.86/gal
+7% in Portland, ME

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.8
28.6
+71% in Portland, ME
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.64
$21.00
+7% in Birmingham, AL

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AL / ME)
4%
5.5%
+1.5 pp in ME
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
7.15%
+2.2 pp in ME

Birmingham vs Portland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Portland?
Birmingham, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,190 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Portland, ME's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Birmingham than in Portland?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Birmingham versus $53,000 in Portland.
Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or Portland?
Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Portland under Maine's (a top state income tax rate of 7.15% and a 5.5% 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).