Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Birmingham, AL Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Birmingham, AL

😐 Solo nomad: New York, NY is 51.4% more expensive than Birmingham, AL without rent, and 84.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: New York, NY is 56.6% more expensive than Birmingham, AL without rent, and 87.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New York, NY
Birmingham, AL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.68 $29.68
$17.77 $17.77
67.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$144 $144
$59 $59
144.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.43 $12.43
$9.87 $9.87
25.94%
Cappuccino
$5.84 $5.84
$5.38 $5.38
8.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 $3.26
$2.11 $2.11
54.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.38 $2.38
8.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.24 $8.24
$5.84 $5.84
41.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.86 $11.86
$7.3 $7.3
62.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Birmingham, AL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 $1.56
$1.09 $1.09
43.12%
White Bread (500g)
$5.23 $5.23
$3.47 $3.47
50.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$8.11 $8.11
$4.08 $4.08
98.77%
Eggs
$7.25 $7.25
$4.26 $4.26
70.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.08 $17.08
$10.91 $10.91
56.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.24 $16.24
$11.65 $11.65
39.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.02 $20.02
$14.13 $14.13
41.68%
Apples (1kg)
$7.49 $7.49
$6.14 $6.14
21.99%
Banana (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$2 $2
27.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.82 $5.82
$7.17 $7.17
-18.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.52 $6.52
$5.31 $5.31
22.79%
Potato (1kg)
$3.72 $3.72
$4.29 $4.29
-13.29%
Onion (1kg)
$3.9 $3.9
$4.95 $4.95
-21.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.07 $3.07
$2.59 $2.59
18.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.74 $2.74
-6.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.21 $19.21
$6.89 $6.89
178.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.79 $17.79
$14.91 $14.91
19.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$2.25 $2.25
33.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$3.58 $3.58
3.91%
🚌 Getting Around
New York, NY
Birmingham, AL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.92 $2.92
$1.51 $1.51
93.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$134 $134
$54.3 $54.3
146.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.13 $5.13
$4.11 $4.11
24.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.55 $1.55
38.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.57 $41.57
$30.78 $30.78
35.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$0.85 $0.85
11.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35K $35K
$30.8K $30.8K
13.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K $27.7K
$26.2K $26.2K
5.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Birmingham, AL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$179 $179
$213 $213
-16.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60 $60
$48.87 $48.87
22.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.8 $63.8
$55.1 $55.1
15.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Birmingham, AL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$141 $141
$46.73 $46.73
201.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$63.9 $63.9
$19.8 $19.8
222.73%
Cinema Ticket
$19.9 $19.9
$13.52 $13.52
47.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Birmingham, AL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,206 $3,206
$1,227 $1,227
161.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$56.5K $56.5K
$18.2K $18.2K
209.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Birmingham, AL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.7 $65.7
$63.1 $63.1
4.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.75 $48.75
$27.88 $27.88
74.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 $111
$107 $107
4.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$172 $172
$97.3 $97.3
76.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Birmingham, AL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,165 $4,165
$1,518 $1,518
174.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,653 $2,653
$1,113 $1,113
138.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$8,412 $8,412
$2,614 $2,614
221.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,277 $5,277
$2,257 $2,257
133.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$15.6K $15.6K
$1,902 $1,902
721.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.2K $11.2K
$2,009 $2,009
455.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Birmingham, AL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,616 $5,616
$3,184 $3,184
76.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.44
6.49
-0.77%

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

Last update for New York, NY: October 28, 2025

Last update for Birmingham, AL: October 29, 2025

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