SalaryCompareTool

Birmingham, AL vs Boston, MA

Moving from Birmingham to Boston? Here's what changes — from your equivalent salary to housing ($262,556 → $741,868 median home) and taxes.

Birmingham vs Boston at a glance

Bars scaled to the range across all 200 metros; labels show actual values.

Birmingham, AL Boston, MA Cost-of-living index Birmingham, AL — Cost-of-living index: 92 92 Boston, MA — Cost-of-living index: 110 110 Median home price Birmingham, AL — Median home price: $263k $263k Boston, MA — Median home price: $742k $742k Price per sqft Birmingham, AL — Price per sqft: $128 $128 Boston, MA — Price per sqft: $436 $436 Median rent Birmingham, AL — Median rent: $1,448 $1,448 Boston, MA — Median rent: $3,211 $3,211 Combined sales tax Birmingham, AL — Combined sales tax: 9.3% 9.3% Boston, MA — Combined sales tax: 6.3% 6.3% Property tax rate Birmingham, AL — Property tax rate: 0.50% 0.50% Boston, MA — Property tax rate: 1.14% 1.14% Violent crime /100k Birmingham, AL — Violent crime /100k: 450 450 Boston, MA — Violent crime /100k: 330 330 Electricity ¢/kWh Birmingham, AL — Electricity ¢/kWh: 17.4 17.4 Boston, MA — Electricity ¢/kWh: 29.4 29.4 Avg commute (min) Birmingham, AL — Avg commute (min): 27 27 Boston, MA — Avg commute (min): 31 31 Avg summer high °F Birmingham, AL — Avg summer high °F: 91° 91° Boston, MA — Avg summer high °F: 82° 82° Avg winter low °F Birmingham, AL — Avg winter low °F: 33° 33° Boston, MA — Avg winter low °F: 22° 22°

To keep the same standard of living as $100,000 in Birmingham, AL, you'd need about $120,300 in Boston, MA (+$20,300).

Livability — Birmingham, AL: 71 · Boston, MA: 48 (0–100).

What your home budget buys

A $500,000 home budget gets you about 3,903 sqft in Birmingham vs 1,146 sqft in Boston ($128 vs $436 per sqft).

Annual cost breakdown (at $100,000)

CategoryBirmingham, ALBoston, MADifference
Housing $17,376 $38,532 +$21,156
Groceries $4,729 $5,040 +$310
Transportation $3,465 $3,210 −$255
Utilities $1,884 $3,180 +$1,296
Insurance $2,400 $1,800 −$600
Taxes $9,314 $17,694 +$8,380
Total $39,168 $69,455 +$30,287

Side by side

MetricBirmingham, ALBoston, MA
Cost-of-living index91.8110.4
Unemployment rate4.90%5.02%
Population growth (5-yr)-2.6%2.9%
Air quality (median AQI)5743
Big Mac price (est.)$5.22$6.28
Median home price$262,556$741,868
Home price ÷ income3.8×6.9×
1-yr home appreciation2.0%1.6%
Price per square foot$128$436
Median rent$1,448$3,211
Total tax burden (% income)9.8%11.5%
Combined sales tax9.25%6.25%
Capital gains tax5.00%9.00%
Property tax rate0.50%1.14%
Healthcare (annual)$6,200$8,200
Childcare (annual, infant)$7,000$21,000
Vehicle property tax0.70%2.25%
Avg commute (min)2731
Home insurance / yr$2,400$1,800
Auto insurance / yr$1,900$1,500
Flood insurance / yr$800$800
Earthquake insurance / yr$100$100
Electricity ¢/kWh17.429.4
Gas $/gal2.953.30
Violent crime /100k450330
Avg summer high °F9182
Avg winter low °F3322
Permit difficulty (1–5)24
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