Birmingham, MO vs Matthews, MO

Matthews is moderately more affordable than Birmingham, with a 12.4% lower cost of living index. Birmingham scores 70 compared to 63 for Matthews, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Birmingham can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Birmingham is $893/month compared to $731/month in Matthews — a 22% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Matthews is more affordable at $101,800 median vs $129,200.

Median household income in Birmingham is $61,250 compared to $44,013 in Matthews (+39.2%). While Birmingham 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 17.5% of their income on rent, less than the 19.9% in Matthews.