CostIndexUSA

Augusta, GA vs Birmingham, AL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostGA
Augusta
91.9
overall index
$1,450/mo rent
AL
Birmingham
91.6
overall index
$1,375/mo rent

Augusta and Birmingham have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+1.8%
Augusta
70.6
Birmingham
71.9
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Augusta
96.3
Birmingham
96.4
🚗 Transportation1.9%
Augusta
103.5
Birmingham
101.5
🏥 Healthcare1.8%
Augusta
93.6
Birmingham
91.9
Utilities6.4%
Augusta
89.5
Birmingham
83.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Augusta to see what you'd need to earn in Birmingham to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Birmingham, AL
$79,700
$300 less needed in Birmingham

Formula: salary × (91.6 ÷ 91.9) = salary × 0.9967. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Augusta, GA

Median Home Price
$239,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,450
Housing Index
70.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.7×

Birmingham, AL

Median Home Price
$252,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,375
Housing Index
71.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.3×

Birmingham has 1.8% higher housing costs compared to Augusta.

Income & Job Market

Augusta, GA

Median Household Income
$67,200
Per Capita Income
$38,300
Unemployment Rate
5.3%
Population
202,081
Top Industries
MilitaryHealthcareGovernmentManufacturingEducation

Birmingham, AL

Median Household Income
$69,300
Per Capita Income
$39,500
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
212,237
Top Industries
HealthcareFinanceManufacturingEducationGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Augusta, GA
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Birmingham, AL
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.