Living Cost Compare
Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,150/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 $2,150 in Washington, DC. Overall, Birmingham, AL is roughly 45% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $44,376 in Birmingham, AL and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 58% higher in Washington, DC. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Birmingham, AL
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$857
$1,763
+106% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$1,004
$1,885
+88% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$1,005
$1,949
+94% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$1,188
$2,249
+89% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$138,600
$724,600
+423% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$44,376
$106,287
+140% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,770
$71,060
+49% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
34.9 yr
+1.0 yr in Birmingham, AL
Homeownership
45.1%
41.1%
+4.0 pp in Birmingham, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
30.7%
63.6%
+32.9 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
21.5 min
30.3 min
+8.8 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,274.7
936.3
+27% in Birmingham, AL
Property Crime
4,233
3,627.9
+14% 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
58.2°F
+5.1°F in Birmingham, AL
Annual Precipitation
53.7 in
39.7 in
+14.0 in in Birmingham, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.86/gal
+7% in Washington, DC

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.8
25.4
+51% in Washington, DC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.64
$22.01
+3% in Birmingham, AL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AL / DC)
4%
6%
+2.0 pp in DC
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
10.75%
+5.8 pp in DC

Birmingham vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Washington?
Birmingham, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,190 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 45% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Birmingham than in Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Birmingham versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or Washington?
Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% 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).