Cost of Living Comparison Between Birmingham, AL and Chicago, IL Cost of Living Comparison Between Birmingham, AL and Chicago, IL

🙂 Solo nomad: Birmingham, AL is 14.1% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 20% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Birmingham, AL is 16.5% cheaper than Chicago, IL without rent, and 16.5% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.77 $17.77

$20.82 $20.82

-14.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59 $59

$100 $100

-41.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.87 $9.87

$11.97 $11.97

-17.54%

Cappuccino

$5.38 $5.38

$5.56 $5.56

-3.24%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 $2.11

$3.11 $3.11

-32.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.42 $2.42

-1.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.84 $5.84

$6.86 $6.86

-14.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.3 $7.3

$8.45 $8.45

-13.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$1.04 $1.04

4.81%

White Bread (500g)

$3.47 $3.47

$4.15 $4.15

-16.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.08 $4.08

$5.52 $5.52

-26.09%

Eggs

$4.26 $4.26

$4.65 $4.65

-8.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.91 $10.91

$14.33 $14.33

-23.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.65 $11.65

$14.88 $14.88

-21.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.13 $14.13

$19.34 $19.34

-26.94%

Apples (1kg)

$6.14 $6.14

$5.17 $5.17

18.76%

Banana (1kg)

$2 $2

$1.71 $1.71

16.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.17 $7.17

$4.41 $4.41

62.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$4.51 $4.51

17.74%

Potato (1kg)

$4.29 $4.29

$2.53 $2.53

69.57%

Onion (1kg)

$4.95 $4.95

$2.74 $2.74

80.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.59 $2.59

$2.43 $2.43

6.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.7 $2.7

1.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.89 $6.89

$15.19 $15.19

-54.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.91 $14.91

$16.42 $16.42

-9.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.35 $2.35

-4.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 $3.58

$3.7 $3.7

-3.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.51 $1.51

$2.53 $2.53

-40.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.3 $54.3

$74.1 $74.1

-26.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.11 $4.11

$3.34 $3.34

23.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 $1.55

$1.42 $1.42

9.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.78 $30.78

$25.42 $25.42

21.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$1.08 $1.08

-21.30%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.8K $30.8K

$32.4K $32.4K

-4.94%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.2K $26.2K

0.08%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$213 $213

$188 $188

13.41%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$48.87 $48.87

$63.7 $63.7

-23.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.1 $55.1

$65.2 $65.2

-15.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.73 $46.73

$76.7 $76.7

-39.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.8 $19.8

$13.03 $13.03

51.96%

Cinema Ticket

$13.52 $13.52

$14.93 $14.93

-9.44%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,227 $1,227

$2,063 $2,063

-40.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$18.2K $18.2K

$39.2K $39.2K

-53.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.1 $63.1

$64.3 $64.3

-1.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.88 $27.88

$52.4 $52.4

-46.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 $107

$95.2 $95.2

11.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.3 $97.3

$145 $145

-32.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,518 $1,518

$2,378 $2,378

-36.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,113 $1,113

$1,584 $1,584

-29.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,614 $2,614

$4,763 $4,763

-45.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,257 $2,257

$2,815 $2,815

-19.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,902 $1,902

$3,588 $3,588

-46.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,009 $2,009

$2,490 $2,490

-19.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,184 $3,184

$5,275 $5,275

-39.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.6

-1.67%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Birmingham, AL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Similar cities

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

Dubai

🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates

Toronto

🇨🇦 Canada

Singapore

🇸🇬 Singapore

Milan

🇮🇹 Italy

Melbourne

🇦🇺 Australia

Munich

🇩🇪 Germany

Vienna

🇦🇹 Austria