Living Cost Compare
Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/mo est.

vs
Sacramento

California

$1,740/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 $1,740 in Sacramento, CA. Overall, Birmingham, AL is roughly 32% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Sacramento, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,376 in Birmingham, AL and $83,753 in Sacramento, CA — about 47% higher in Sacramento, CA. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Birmingham, AL
Sacramento, CA

Rent

Studio
$857
$1,259
+47% in Sacramento, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,004
$1,418
+41% in Sacramento, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,005
$1,742
+73% in Sacramento, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,188
$1,973
+66% in Sacramento, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$138,600
$484,600
+250% in Sacramento, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$44,376
$83,753
+89% in Sacramento, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,770
$59,750
+25% in Sacramento, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
35.7 yr
+0.2 yr in Birmingham, AL
Homeownership
45.1%
51.5%
+6.4 pp in Sacramento, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.7%
36.4%
+5.7 pp in Sacramento, CA
Avg Commute
21.5 min
25.6 min
+4.1 min in Sacramento, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,274.7
756.6
+41% in Birmingham, AL
Property Crime
4,233
2,615.3
+38% 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
61.0°F
+2.3°F in Birmingham, AL
Annual Precipitation
53.7 in
18.5 in
+35.2 in in Birmingham, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$5.40/gal
+49% in Sacramento, CA

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs California.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.8
33.3
+98% in Sacramento, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.64
$20.72
+8% in Birmingham, AL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.82
+20% in Sacramento, CA
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in Sacramento, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Birmingham, AL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in Sacramento, CA
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in Sacramento, CA
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Sacramento, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AL / CA)
4%
7.25%
+3.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
13.30%
+8.3 pp in CA

Birmingham vs Sacramento — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Sacramento?
Birmingham, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,190 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Sacramento, CA's $1,740, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Birmingham than in Sacramento?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Birmingham versus $57,000 in Sacramento.
Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or Sacramento?
Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Sacramento under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).