Living Cost Compare
Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/mo est.

vs
Salt Lake City

Utah

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Salt Lake City, UT. Overall, Birmingham, AL is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Salt Lake City, UT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,376 in Birmingham, AL and $74,925 in Salt Lake City, UT — about 41% higher in Salt Lake City, UT. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Birmingham, AL
Salt Lake City, UT

Rent

Studio
$857
$997
+16% in Salt Lake City, UT
1 Bedroom
$1,004
$1,166
+16% in Salt Lake City, UT
2 Bedroom
$1,005
$1,461
+45% in Salt Lake City, UT
3 Bedroom
$1,188
$1,993
+68% in Salt Lake City, UT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$138,600
$495,700
+258% in Salt Lake City, UT

Income

Median Household Income
$44,376
$74,925
+69% in Salt Lake City, UT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,770
$55,240
+16% in Salt Lake City, UT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
33.0 yr
+2.9 yr in Birmingham, AL
Homeownership
45.1%
46.8%
+1.7 pp in Salt Lake City, UT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.7%
50.9%
+20.2 pp in Salt Lake City, UT
Avg Commute
21.5 min
19.6 min
+1.9 min in Birmingham, AL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,274.7
878.8
+31% in Birmingham, AL
Property Crime
4,233
5,257.3
+24% in Salt Lake City, UT

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
52.8°F
+10.5°F in Birmingham, AL
Annual Precipitation
53.7 in
16.1 in
+37.6 in in Birmingham, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$4.29/gal
+18% in Salt Lake City, UT

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.8
13.0
+23% in Birmingham, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.64
$10.26
+55% in Birmingham, AL

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AL / UT)
4%
6.1%
+2.1 pp in UT
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
4.50%
+0.5 pp in AL

Birmingham vs Salt Lake City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Salt Lake City?
Birmingham, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,190 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Salt Lake City, UT's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Birmingham than in Salt Lake City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Birmingham versus $47,000 in Salt Lake City.
Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or Salt Lake City?
Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Salt Lake City under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).