Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Worcester?

Birmingham, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,190 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of electricity costs.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Birmingham than in Worcester?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Birmingham versus $41,000 in Worcester.

Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or Worcester?

Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Birmingham vs Worcester Cost of Living 2026

Birmingham

Alabama

$1,190/mo est.

Worcester

Massachusetts

$1,340/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 $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Birmingham, AL is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Worcester, MA, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $44,376 in Birmingham, AL and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 34% higher in Worcester, MA. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Birmingham, AL

Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio

$857

$1,087

+27% in Worcester, MA

1 Bedroom

$1,004

$1,028

+2% in Worcester, MA

2 Bedroom

$1,005

$1,476

+47% in Worcester, MA

3 Bedroom

$1,188

$1,675

+41% in Worcester, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$138,600

$339,500

+145% in Worcester, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$44,376

$67,544

+52% in Worcester, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,770

$57,830

+21% in Worcester, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.9 yr

34.1 yr

+1.8 yr in Birmingham, AL

Homeownership

45.1%

42.4%

+2.7 pp in Birmingham, AL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

30.7%

34.1%

+3.4 pp in Worcester, MA

Avg Commute

21.5 min

25.1 min

+3.6 min in Worcester, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,274.7

640.2

+50% in Birmingham, AL

Property Crime

4,233

1,580.3

+63% 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

47.9°F

+15.4°F in Birmingham, AL

Annual Precipitation

53.7 in

48.1 in

+5.6 in in Birmingham, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$4.07/gal

+12% in Worcester, MA

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Massachusetts.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

29.6

+81% in Worcester, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.06

$30.66

+27% in Worcester, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Worcester, MA

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Worcester, MA

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Birmingham, AL

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Worcester, MA

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Worcester, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Worcester, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AL / MA)

6.25%

+2.3 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

5.00%

9.00%

+4.0 pp in MA

Birmingham vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Birmingham or Worcester?: Birmingham, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,190 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Birmingham than in Worcester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $40,000 a year in Birmingham versus $41,000 in Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Birmingham or Worcester?: Birmingham is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).