Birmingham, AL vs Huntsville, AL

Birmingham is moderately more affordable than Huntsville, with a 13.6% lower cost of living index. Birmingham scores 75 compared to 87 for Huntsville, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Huntsville can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Birmingham is $1,047/month compared to $1,078/month in Huntsville — a 3% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Birmingham is more affordable at $138,600 median vs $263,100.

Median household income in Birmingham is $44,376 compared to $70,778 in Huntsville (-37.3%). While Huntsville is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Birmingham spend roughly 28.3% of their income on rent, more than the 18.3% in Huntsville.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (63.9°F vs 62.9°F). Birmingham receives more rainfall at 56.6" per year compared to 54.3" in Huntsville.