Cost of living, Birmingham
91.6
BEA Regional Price Parity vs US average of 100 (2024). Birmingham sits about 8.4% below national prices.
BLS OEWS median, May 2025, as of May 15, 2026. BEA RPP all-items, 2024. Disclaimer
- vs US
- −8.4%
- Metro
- Birmingham
- CBSA
- 13820
Birmingham all-items RPP is 91.6 (2024), about 8.4% below US-average prices. A $90,000 salary at national prices maps to about $82,440 here for equal purchasing power.
Price components in Birmingham
| Component | Birmingham | US |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 91.6 | 100 |
| Goods | 96.4 | 100 |
| Housing (rents) | 71.9 | 100 |
| Other services | 96.7 | 100 |
BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, US = 100.
What a US-average salary buys in Birmingham
| At US average | In Birmingham |
|---|---|
| $60,000 | $54,960 |
| $90,000 | $82,440 |
| $150,000 | $137,400 |
Local equivalent = national salary × (91.6 ÷ 100). BEA RPP 2024.
Top wages here
FAQ
- What is the cost of living in Birmingham?
- The BEA Regional Price Parity (all items, 2024) for Birmingham, AL is 91.6, versus a US average of 100 (−8.4%).
- How is RPP different from CPI?
- CPI tracks price change over time. RPP compares price levels across places in a given year versus the national average of 100. PayByCity uses RPP for cross-metro purchasing power, including goods, housing rents, and other services components.
- How should I use this with OEWS wages?
- Pair local BLS OEWS medians (May 2025) with this RPP. A $90,000 salary at US-average prices maps to about $82,440 in Birmingham for equal purchasing power.
- Does this include taxes or housing alone?
- No. All-items RPP is a broad price-level index. Component indexes show goods, rents, and other services separately, but this is not a rent quote, tax estimate, or household budget.
What this covers
Includes
- BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, goods, housing rents, other services)
- BLS OEWS median wages, percentile bands, and employment where published
- Purchasing-power math: salary × (destination RPP ÷ origin RPP)
Does not include
- Federal, state, or local income taxes
- Childcare, healthcare premiums, or leave benefits
- Job openings. OEWS employment is a published stock estimate, not hiring demand
Highest wages here
- Physicians, All Other , 1,420 OEWS emp. $237,040
- Lawyers , 2,800 OEWS emp. $170,230
- Chief Executives , 190 OEWS emp. $167,080
- Architectural and Engineering Managers , 600 OEWS emp. $166,670
- Financial Managers , 2,700 OEWS emp. $153,930
- Computer and Information Systems Managers , 2,230 OEWS emp. $140,230
See methodology and disclaimer.