Search
- Visiting & Living
- Moving to Birmingham
- Cost of Living
Cost of Living
Rich in history and culture, Birmingham shines as one of the
best places to live and one of the most affordable. Birmingham is listed among the 150 most affordable cities in the US according to the book,
"Life 2.0: How People Across America are Transforming Their Lives by Finding the Where of Their Happiness," by Rich Karlgaard, July 2004.
It doesn't take long to fall in love with this city full of energy and life. Take a look for yourself how the Magic City rates in cost of living indexes.
Cost of Living in Birmingham
Updated September 21, 2005
ACCRA Cost of Living in Birmingham, Alabama 2005
Housing*
| Cost | Category | Description |
| $665 | Apartment, Monthly Rent | Two bedroom, unfurnished, excluding all utilities except water, 1˝ - 2 bath, 950 sq. ft. |
| $190,221 | House, Purchase Price | 2,400 sq. ft. living area new house, 8,000 sq. ft. lot, urban area with all utilities |
Utilities*
| Cost | Category | Description |
| $81.00 | Natural Gas Energy Cost | Average monthly cost, at current rates, for 2,000 square foot home, with 2 residents. |
| $66.99 | Electricity | Average monthly cost for a private residence. |
| $41.00 | Water | Water and sewer monthly rates. |
| $16.30 | Telephone | Private residential line; Price includes: basic monthly rate; unlimited local calls |
* Monthly costs for housing and energy are not community wide averages.
Transportation
| Cost | Category | Description |
| $1.00 | Bus Fare | One-way commute, Adult |
| $20.00 | Auto Maintenance | Average price for oil change |
| $2.75 | Gasoline | One gallon, regular unleaded, national brand, including all taxes; cash price at self-service pump. |
Health Care
| Cost | Category | Description |
| $79.00 | Doctor Visit | General practitioner's routine examination. |
| $167.00 | Dentist Visit | Adult teeth cleaning and periodic oral examination, plus x-rays. |
Miscellaneous Goods & Services
| Cost | Category | Description |
| $2.39 | Hamburger | McDonald's Quarter-Pounder w/ cheese |
| $10.89 | Pizza | 11"-12" Pizza Hut |
| $14.00 | Haircut | Man's barbershop haircut, no styling |
| $25.00 | Beauty Salon | Woman's shampoo, trim, and blow-dry |
| $4.95 | Dry Cleaning | Man's two-piece suit |
| $11.90 | Newspaper Subscription | Monthly rate for 7-day-a-week-delivery |
| $7.50 | Movie | First-run, indoor, evening, no discount |
| $7.69 | Beer | Heineken's 6-pack, 12-oz containers |
| $6.87 | Wine | Gallo Chablis, 1.5-liter bottle |