Birmingham, AL vs Montgomery, AL

Birmingham, AL and Montgomery, AL have a very similar cost of living, with only a 0.7% difference in their overall index. Birmingham scores 75 while Montgomery 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 $1,059/month in Montgomery — a 1% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Birmingham is more affordable at $138,600 median vs $148,500.

Median household income in Birmingham is $44,376 compared to $55,687 in Montgomery (-20.3%). While Montgomery 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 22.8% in Montgomery.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (63.9°F vs 66.4°F). Birmingham receives more rainfall at 56.6" per year compared to 51.2" in Montgomery.