Living Cost Compare
Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/mo est.

vs
Seattle

Washington

$2,030/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 $2,030 in Seattle, WA. Overall, Birmingham, AL is roughly 41% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,376 in Birmingham, AL and $121,984 in Seattle, WA — about 64% higher in Seattle, WA. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Birmingham, AL
Seattle, WA

Rent

Studio
$857
$1,638
+91% in Seattle, WA
1 Bedroom
$1,004
$1,858
+85% in Seattle, WA
2 Bedroom
$1,005
$2,359
+135% in Seattle, WA
3 Bedroom
$1,188
$2,918
+146% in Seattle, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$138,600
$912,100
+558% in Seattle, WA

Income

Median Household Income
$44,376
$121,984
+175% in Seattle, WA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,770
$72,610
+52% in Seattle, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
35.5 yr
+0.4 yr in Birmingham, AL
Homeownership
45.1%
44.2%
+0.9 pp in Birmingham, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.7%
67.5%
+36.8 pp in Seattle, WA
Avg Commute
21.5 min
26.6 min
+5.1 min in Seattle, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,274.7
788.6
+38% in Birmingham, AL
Property Crime
4,233
5,108.8
+21% in Seattle, WA

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
53.5°F
+9.8°F in Birmingham, AL
Annual Precipitation
53.7 in
37.7 in
+16.0 in in Birmingham, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$5.31/gal
+47% in Seattle, WA

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Seattle.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.75

Adult base one-way fare — — vs King County Metro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.8
14.9
+11% in Birmingham, AL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.64
$20.41
+10% in Birmingham, AL

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

Groceries

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

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AL / WA)
4%
6.5%
+2.5 pp in WA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
None
+5.0 pp in AL

Birmingham vs Seattle — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Seattle?
Birmingham, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,190 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 41% below Seattle, WA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Birmingham than in Seattle?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Birmingham versus $74,000 in Seattle.
Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or Seattle?
Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).