How Much Does It Cost to Live In Birmingham, AL?
Birmingham is a city full of rich and diverse cultural events, historic places, and stunning architecture.
Once visited, it makes a visitor urge to come again or even settle there permanently.
The city and its residents are so welcoming to new visitors which makes your stay even more pleasant and appealing.
What you have to do before deciding to settle there is to get familiar with the basic expenses which include housing, food, transportation, and other necessities.
United States : Cost of Living by City
- Albany, NY
- Albuquerque, NM
- Anchorage, AK
- Ann Arbor, MI
- Arlington, TX
- Asheville, NC
- Atlanta, GA
- Austin, TX
- Bakersfield, CA
- Baltimore, MD
- Bellevue, WA
- Bellingham, WA
- Berkeley, CA
- Birmingham, AL
- Boise, ID
- Boston, MA
- Boulder, CO
- Brooklyn, NY
- Buffalo, NY
- Burlington, VT
- Charleston, SC
- Charlotte, NC
- Chattanooga, TN
- Chicago, IL
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- Cleveland, OH
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- Columbus, OH
- Dallas, TX
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- Fort Myers, FL
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- Fort Worth, TX
- Fresno, CA
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- Grand Rapids, MI
- Greensboro, NC
- Hartford, CT
- Honolulu, HI
- Houston, TX
- Huntsville, AL
- Indianapolis, IN
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- Wichita, KS
RESTAURANTS
When compared to other major cities in the United States, Birmingham belongs to those that do not boast so high restaurant prices.
Actually, the restaurant prices are in line with the salaries and that is the reason why more than 13% of the monthly salary is spent on them.
| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $16.00 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $5.99 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $1.88 |
MARKETS
The cost of food is important as it is an essential thing for a living.
There are numerous ways to save money on your food expenses, which are pretty high in Birmingham, and the best way of doing this is to follow the shopping habits of the residents and plan your budget carefully.
| Average Market Prices | |
|---|---|
| Milk (1 Liter) | $1.13 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $3.62 |
| Eggs (12) | $6.66 |
TRANSPORTATION
Even though Birmingham is considered one of the best cities to drive in, traffic jams are not rare and it might take you a lot of time and energy.
Transportation will impact your cost of living, so if you live on a low budget, it is advisable to use buses, at very affordable prices.
| Average Transport Prices | |
|---|---|
| One Way Ticket | $1.38 |
| Monthly Pass | $55.00 |
| Gasoline | $0.82 |
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
The average cost of Internet access in Birmingham is $61 per month, which is in line with the national average.
Other services would be around $243.3 per month, or even higher during the bad weather period.
Generally speaking, this cost cannot be easily reduced and highly depends on the number of people living in one place.
| Average Utilities Prices | |
|---|---|
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $243.3 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.10 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $66.38 |
SPORTS & LEISURE
You are in the right place if you are looking for inexpensive fitness clubs and gyms.
Residents here do not spend much money on sports and entertainment, causing the prices not to be so high, which will benefit a lot of people whose lifestyle includes daily exercising.
| Average Leisure Prices | |
|---|---|
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $47.56 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $13.0 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $10.00 |
CLOTHING & SHOES
The possible spending on clothing will increase if you have children, being that they devote too much attention to brands and usually want quality designer apparel.
Prices are the same as in the cities where the average salary is twice higher, meaning that they are not quite affordable in Birmingham.
| Average Clothing Prices | |
|---|---|
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $65.67 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $52.50 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $92.25 |
RENT PER MONTH
There are lots of ways to reduce housing expenses and lower your overall cost of living in Birmingham, meaning that choosing an apartment away from the city center would save you around $300 or even more depending on the size.
The larger apartment price is around $3,083.
| Average Rent Prices | |
|---|---|
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $1341.67 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $985.83 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $3083.33 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Birmingham, AL?
One of the greatest expenses here is food which takes one-third of your salary.
In order to save some money on this expensive category, you should purchase groceries at stores like Walmart or Costco or get local products for low prices at markets.
Another huge expense here is the rent, which is considered high when compared to the average salaries.
All the other expenses, such as clothing, dining out, and sports activities, are non-essential and can be easily avoided if necessary.
Average Costs Breakdown
Birmingham, AL: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
In order to be able to relax, enjoy your work and stay in one city, it is important that you earn salaries high enough for a decent living.
Job opportunities in Birmingham are numerous and some employers offer employees certain benefits such as a reduced bus ticket.
The possibility to negotiate a salary with your employer once you have made a plan for your spending is another advantage that will make your relocation easier.
If you possess enough financial assets, you might be even able to buy a property here.
Birmingham Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Birmingham Safety Review
| OVERALL RISK | MEDIUM |
|---|---|
| TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK | LOW |
| PICKPOCKETS RISK | MEDIUM |
| NATURAL DISASTERS RISK | MEDIUM |
| MUGGING RISK | LOW |
| TERRORISM RISK | LOW |
| SCAMS RISK | LOW |
| WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK | LOW |
| TAP WATER RISK | LOW |
