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, OR'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 $58,000 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 Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Birmingham vs Portland Cost of Living 2026

Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/mo est.

Portland

Oregon

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

Median household income is $44,376 in Birmingham, AL and $88,792 in Portland, OR — about 50% higher in Portland, OR. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Birmingham, AL

Portland, OR

Rent

Studio

$857

$1,294

+51% in Portland, OR

1 Bedroom

$1,004

$1,440

+43% in Portland, OR

2 Bedroom

$1,005

$1,741

+73% in Portland, OR

3 Bedroom

$1,188

$2,053

+73% in Portland, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$138,600

$557,600

+302% in Portland, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$44,376

$88,792

+100% in Portland, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,770

$60,690

+27% in Portland, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.9 yr

38.6 yr

+2.7 yr in Portland, OR

Homeownership

45.1%

52.8%

+7.7 pp in Portland, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

30.7%

53.5%

+22.8 pp in Portland, OR

Avg Commute

21.5 min

24.6 min

+3.1 min in Portland, OR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,274.7

732.3

+43% in Birmingham, AL

Property Crime

4,233

5,609.4

+33% in Portland, OR

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

54.5°F

+8.8°F in Birmingham, AL

Annual Precipitation

53.7 in

42.9 in

+10.9 in in Birmingham, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$5.09/gal

+40% in Portland, OR

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.80

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.8

16.3

+3% in Birmingham, AL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.64

$20.59

+9% in Birmingham, AL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Portland, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Portland, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Birmingham, AL

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Portland, OR

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Portland, OR

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Portland, OR

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AL / OR)

None

+4.0 pp in AL

Income Tax (top rate)

5.00%

9.90%

+4.9 pp in OR

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, OR'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 $58,000 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 Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% 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).