Living Cost Compare
Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/mo est.

vs
St. Louis

Missouri

$1,030/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 $1,030 in St. Louis, MO. Overall, St. Louis, MO is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Birmingham, AL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,376 in Birmingham, AL and $55,279 in St. Louis, MO — about 20% higher in St. Louis, MO. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Birmingham, AL
St. Louis, MO

Rent

Studio
$857
$864
+1% in St. Louis, MO
1 Bedroom
$1,004
$866
+14% in Birmingham, AL
2 Bedroom
$1,005
$1,109
+10% in St. Louis, MO
3 Bedroom
$1,188
$1,135
+4% in Birmingham, AL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$138,600
$185,100
+34% in St. Louis, MO

Income

Median Household Income
$44,376
$55,279
+25% in St. Louis, MO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,770
$49,990
+5% in St. Louis, MO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
36.6 yr
+0.7 yr in St. Louis, MO
Homeownership
45.1%
45.4%
+0.3 pp in St. Louis, MO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.7%
40.2%
+9.5 pp in St. Louis, MO
Avg Commute
21.5 min
22.2 min
+0.7 min in St. Louis, MO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,274.7
1,372.9
+8% in St. Louis, MO
Property Crime
4,233
5,794.9
+37% in St. Louis, MO

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
55.7°F
+7.6°F in Birmingham, AL
Annual Precipitation
53.7 in
40.9 in
+12.8 in in Birmingham, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in St. Louis, MO

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.8
13.7
+18% in Birmingham, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.64
$24.13
+7% in St. Louis, MO

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in St. Louis, MO
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Birmingham, AL
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in St. Louis, MO
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in St. Louis, MO
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in St. Louis, MO
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AL / MO)
4%
4.225%
+0.2 pp in MO
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
4.70%
+0.3 pp in AL

Birmingham vs St. Louis — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or St. Louis?
St. Louis, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Birmingham, AL's $1,190, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Birmingham than in St. Louis?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Birmingham versus $35,000 in St. Louis.
Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or St. Louis?
Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); St. Louis under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% 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).