CostIndexUSA

Birmingham, AL vs Omaha, NE Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostAL
Birmingham
91.6
overall index
$1,375/mo rent
NE
Omaha
91.9
overall index
$1,400/mo rent

Birmingham and Omaha have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+20.2%
Birmingham
71.9
Omaha
86.4
🛒 Groceries2.4%
Birmingham
96.4
Omaha
94.1
🚗 Transportation3.8%
Birmingham
101.5
Omaha
97.6
🏥 Healthcare3.9%
Birmingham
91.9
Omaha
88.3
Utilities8.8%
Birmingham
83.8
Omaha
76.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Omaha, NE
$80,300
$300 more needed in Omaha

Formula: salary × (91.9 ÷ 91.6) = salary × 1.0033. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Birmingham, AL

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

Omaha, NE

Median Home Price
$295,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
86.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.6×

Omaha has 20.2% higher housing costs compared to Birmingham.

Income & Job Market

Birmingham, AL

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

Omaha, NE

Median Household Income
$81,400
Per Capita Income
$46,400
Unemployment Rate
2.6%
Population
486,051
Top Industries
FinanceInsuranceHealthcareTelecommunicationsManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

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

Birmingham, AL
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Omaha, NE
4.8×income-to-rent ratio

79% 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.