Last updated 2026-06-12 ยท MovePlan Editorial Team
Well below the national average, with low housing costs and Southern charm.
Cost of living index (US avg = 100): 88
Median 2BR rent: $1,200/mo
Housing: 80 vs 100
Groceries: 94 vs 100
Utilities: 102 vs 100
Transportation: 95 vs 100
Healthcare: 95 vs 100
Birmingham offers a real food scene, civil rights history, and a low cost of living. Affordable housing across the metro makes it one of the better budget picks in the South.