Birmingham, AL Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Birmingham, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Birmingham →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Roughly 200,431 people call Birmingham, Alabama home. Household income runs $42,464 at the median, below what we see across the broader set of cities (-41%).
Housing costs are a defining factor for anyone relocating to Birmingham. The median home value sits at $123,000 (below the multi-city median at -62%), while renters pay a median of $995 per month. Buyers should weigh current mortgage rates and local property taxes against these figures before committing.
Home prices in Birmingham run about 2.9× the typical household income — among the more affordable ratios we track, and a favorable starting point for buyers. Year-over-year, home values around Birmingham are up 2.21%, a pace in line with a healthy, unremarkable market. Climate and natural-hazard risk in Birmingham runs on the higher side, per FEMA's Relatively High rating — insurance premiums often track this closely.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $995/mo in Birmingham would take 28.1% of your income.
$67/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($123,000) would take 18.6% of your income toward principal & interest.
$334/mo under the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Birmingham
Median home value is $123,000 and median gross rent is $995/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Jefferson rose 2.21% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,266/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Birmingham's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Birmingham reported a violent crime rate of 1238.5 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Birmingham
Planning a move to Birmingham? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Birmingham, AL?
- In Birmingham, the median home value is $123,000 and median rent is $995 per month, against a median household income of $42,464. These figures come from the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Birmingham?
- Using the standard 30%-of-income rule of thumb, affording Birmingham's median rent of $995/month takes an income of roughly $39,800 a year. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Birmingham.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Birmingham?
- Birmingham's median rent of $995/month translates to about $39,800 a year needed to rent comfortably, versus roughly $28,142 a year for principal and interest on the $123,000 median home (20% down, 30-year fixed, today's rates). How long you'll stay is usually the deciding factor.
- Is Birmingham safe?
- Per FBI Crime Data Explorer figures, Birmingham's violent crime rate was 1238.5 per 100,000 residents in 2025.
See the full salary breakdown for Birmingham →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Birmingham's.