Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Rochester?

Birmingham, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,190 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Rochester, MN's $1,280, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Birmingham than in Rochester?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Birmingham versus $44,000 in Rochester.

Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or Rochester?

Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax).

Birmingham vs Rochester Cost of Living 2026

Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/mo est.

Rochester

Minnesota

$1,280/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 $1,280 in Rochester, MN. Overall, Birmingham, AL is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rochester, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,376 in Birmingham, AL and $87,767 in Rochester, MN — about 49% higher in Rochester, MN. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Birmingham, AL

Rochester, MN

Rent

Studio

$857

$1,080

+26% in Rochester, MN

1 Bedroom

$1,004

$1,106

+10% in Rochester, MN

2 Bedroom

$1,005

$1,243

+24% in Rochester, MN

3 Bedroom

$1,188

$1,646

+39% in Rochester, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$138,600

$287,500

+107% in Rochester, MN

Income

Median Household Income

$44,376

$87,767

+98% in Rochester, MN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,770

$60,620

+27% in Rochester, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.9 yr

36.4 yr

+0.5 yr in Rochester, MN

Homeownership

45.1%

65.4%

+20.3 pp in Rochester, MN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

30.7%

50.1%

+19.4 pp in Rochester, MN

Avg Commute

21.5 min

17.2 min

+4.3 min in Birmingham, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,274.7

158.9

+88% in Birmingham, AL

Property Crime

4,233

1,379

+67% 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

45.4°F

+17.9°F in Birmingham, AL

Annual Precipitation

53.7 in

33.0 in

+20.7 in in Birmingham, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.95/gal

+9% in Rochester, MN

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.8

16.9

+1% in Rochester, MN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.64

$14.95

+34% in Birmingham, AL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Rochester, MN

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Birmingham, AL

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Rochester, MN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Rochester, MN

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Rochester, MN

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AL / MN)

6.875%

+2.9 pp in MN

Income Tax (top rate)

5.00%

9.85%

+4.8 pp in MN

Birmingham vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Rochester?: Birmingham, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,190 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Rochester, MN's $1,280, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Birmingham than in Rochester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Birmingham versus $44,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or Rochester?: Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).