Living Cost Compare
Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/mo est.

vs
Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,510/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 $1,510 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Birmingham, AL is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,376 in Birmingham, AL and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 46% higher in Raleigh, NC. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Birmingham, AL
Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio
$857
$1,301
+52% in Raleigh, NC
1 Bedroom
$1,004
$1,323
+32% in Raleigh, NC
2 Bedroom
$1,005
$1,462
+45% in Raleigh, NC
3 Bedroom
$1,188
$1,715
+44% in Raleigh, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$138,600
$377,800
+173% in Raleigh, NC

Income

Median Household Income
$44,376
$82,424
+86% in Raleigh, NC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,770
$51,990
+9% in Raleigh, NC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
34.7 yr
+1.2 yr in Birmingham, AL
Homeownership
45.1%
51.2%
+6.1 pp in Raleigh, NC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.7%
52.9%
+22.2 pp in Raleigh, NC
Avg Commute
21.5 min
23.4 min
+1.9 min in Raleigh, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,274.7
491.5
+61% in Birmingham, AL
Property Crime
4,233
2,838.4
+33% 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
60.6°F
+2.7°F in Birmingham, AL
Annual Precipitation
53.7 in
46.0 in
+7.7 in in Birmingham, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.86/gal
+7% in Raleigh, NC

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.8
15.1
+10% in Birmingham, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.64
$27.56
+22% in Raleigh, NC

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 / NC)
4%
4.75%
+0.8 pp in NC
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
3.99%
+1.0 pp in AL

Birmingham vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Raleigh?
Birmingham, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,190 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Birmingham than in Raleigh?
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 Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or Raleigh?
Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).