Living Cost Compare
Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/mo est.

vs
Rochester

New York

$1,160/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 $1,160 in Rochester, NY. Overall, Rochester, NY is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Birmingham, AL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,376 in Birmingham, AL and $46,628 in Rochester, NY — about 5% higher in Rochester, NY. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Birmingham, AL
Rochester, NY

Rent

Studio
$857
$750
+12% in Birmingham, AL
1 Bedroom
$1,004
$857
+15% in Birmingham, AL
2 Bedroom
$1,005
$1,114
+11% in Rochester, NY
3 Bedroom
$1,188
$1,240
+4% in Rochester, NY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$138,600
$120,600
+13% in Birmingham, AL

Income

Median Household Income
$44,376
$46,628
+5% in Rochester, NY
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,770
$51,210
+7% in Rochester, NY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
33.5 yr
+2.4 yr in Birmingham, AL
Homeownership
45.1%
37.2%
+7.9 pp in Birmingham, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.7%
29.9%
+0.8 pp in Birmingham, AL
Avg Commute
21.5 min
18.9 min
+2.6 min in Birmingham, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,274.7
690
+46% in Birmingham, AL
Property Crime
4,233
3,533.4
+17% 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
48.2°F
+15.1°F in Birmingham, AL
Annual Precipitation
53.7 in
34.3 in
+19.4 in in Birmingham, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$4.04/gal
+12% in Rochester, NY

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs New York.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.8
29.9
+78% in Rochester, NY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.64
$22.74
+0% in Rochester, NY

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AL / NY)
4%
4%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
10.90%
+5.9 pp in NY

Birmingham vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Rochester?
Rochester, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Birmingham, AL's $1,190, 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 $34,000 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 New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).