Birmingham, AL vs Mobile, AL

Birmingham, AL and Mobile, AL have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.3% difference in their overall index. Birmingham scores 75 while Mobile scores 76 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Birmingham is $1,047/month compared to $1,029/month in Mobile — a 2% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Mobile has cheaper rent, Birmingham actually has lower median home values ($138,600 vs $170,300).

Median household income in Birmingham is $44,376 compared to $51,090 in Mobile (-13.1%). While Mobile 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 24.2% in Mobile.

Climate-wise, Mobile is notably warmer with an average of 69.1°F compared to 63.9°F in Birmingham. Mobile receives more rainfall at 60.5" per year compared to 56.6" in Birmingham.