Jackson, MS vs Birmingham, AL: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Birmingham, AL is 2.9% more expensive than Jackson, MS (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Jackson works out to about $77,200 in Birmingham, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is everyday costs rather than housing: goods are 0.2% higher and other services 0.6% higher in Birmingham, while housing is 10.9% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,404 a month in Birmingham and $1,470 in Jackson, $792 a year less in Birmingham (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $261,000 in Birmingham and $212,000 in Jackson.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (2.6%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Everyday costs, not housing, drive the gap between Jackson and Birmingham
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Jackson, MS
- Birmingham, AL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Jackson, MS | Birmingham, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 89.0 | 91.6 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.4 |
| Housing (rents) | 64.8 | 71.9 |
| Utilities | 78.1 | 83.8 |
| Other services | 96.1 | 96.7 |
| Category | Jackson | Birmingham | Birmingham vs Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 89.0 | 91.6 | +2.9% |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.4 | +0.2% |
| Housing (rents) | 64.8 | 71.9 | +10.9% |
| Utilities | 78.1 | 83.8 | +7.3% |
| Other services | 96.1 | 96.7 | +0.6% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,470 | $1,404 | −4.5% |
| Typical home value | $212,000 | $261,000 | +22.8% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Jackson | $75,000 | $77,200 | +2.9% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Jackson and Birmingham has widened since 2008: 1.1 points then, 2.6 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Jackson, MS
- Birmingham, AL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Jackson, MS | Birmingham, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 91.6 | 92.7 |
| 2009 | 90.9 | 91.5 |
| 2010 | 93.3 | 93.3 |
| 2011 | 93.1 | 94.3 |
| 2012 | 93.0 | 93.7 |
| 2013 | 93.0 | 93.9 |
| 2014 | 92.7 | 93.2 |
| 2015 | 92.9 | 93.1 |
| 2016 | 93.5 | 94.1 |
| 2017 | 92.6 | 92.8 |
| 2018 | 88.7 | 90.1 |
| 2019 | 88.6 | 90.9 |
| 2020 | 88.9 | 91.4 |
| 2021 | 88.5 | 90.4 |
| 2022 | 90.2 | 91.0 |
| 2023 | 89.8 | 91.8 |
| 2024 | 89.0 | 91.6 |
Goods
- Jackson, MS
- Birmingham, AL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Jackson, MS | Birmingham, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 96.7 | 96.5 |
| 2009 | 94.4 | 94.5 |
| 2010 | 96.7 | 96.5 |
| 2011 | 96.3 | 96.3 |
| 2012 | 95.7 | 96.3 |
| 2013 | 96.3 | 96.9 |
| 2014 | 96.7 | 97.3 |
| 2015 | 95.5 | 96.2 |
| 2016 | 96.3 | 96.9 |
| 2017 | 95.9 | 96.6 |
| 2018 | 93.1 | 92.5 |
| 2019 | 94.9 | 94.6 |
| 2020 | 94.6 | 94.3 |
| 2021 | 94.2 | 93.9 |
| 2022 | 94.2 | 94.7 |
| 2023 | 94.4 | 94.6 |
| 2024 | 96.2 | 96.4 |
Housing (rents)
- Jackson, MS
- Birmingham, AL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Jackson, MS | Birmingham, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 68.3 | 71.4 |
| 2009 | 71.7 | 70.9 |
| 2010 | 75.3 | 72.9 |
| 2011 | 71.5 | 75.1 |
| 2012 | 71.2 | 71.4 |
| 2013 | 71.4 | 72.5 |
| 2014 | 68.5 | 68.8 |
| 2015 | 72.2 | 68.7 |
| 2016 | 71.9 | 69.8 |
| 2017 | 70.9 | 67.5 |
| 2018 | 66.0 | 70.4 |
| 2019 | 61.3 | 69.8 |
| 2020 | 66.3 | 74.3 |
| 2021 | 64.4 | 70.3 |
| 2022 | 67.3 | 68.9 |
| 2023 | 65.6 | 71.7 |
| 2024 | 64.8 | 71.9 |
Utilities
- Jackson, MS
- Birmingham, AL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Jackson, MS | Birmingham, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 88.2 | 93.0 |
| 2009 | 84.4 | 93.8 |
| 2010 | 84.7 | 95.5 |
| 2011 | 84.1 | 95.1 |
| 2012 | 85.0 | 95.6 |
| 2013 | 85.9 | 95.0 |
| 2014 | 88.8 | 95.4 |
| 2015 | 89.3 | 95.2 |
| 2016 | 85.0 | 94.2 |
| 2017 | 84.9 | 91.9 |
| 2018 | 79.9 | 87.4 |
| 2019 | 78.4 | 85.4 |
| 2020 | 77.6 | 83.8 |
| 2021 | 80.4 | 85.9 |
| 2022 | 80.3 | 87.0 |
| 2023 | 83.6 | 90.0 |
| 2024 | 78.1 | 83.8 |
Other services
- Jackson, MS
- Birmingham, AL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Jackson, MS | Birmingham, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.7 | 98.3 |
| 2009 | 97.0 | 97.7 |
| 2010 | 98.9 | 99.4 |
| 2011 | 100.8 | 100.8 |
| 2012 | 100.8 | 101.5 |
| 2013 | 100.4 | 100.4 |
| 2014 | 100.2 | 100.2 |
| 2015 | 100.2 | 100.7 |
| 2016 | 100.8 | 101.7 |
| 2017 | 99.2 | 100.2 |
| 2018 | 95.7 | 95.9 |
| 2019 | 96.2 | 96.9 |
| 2020 | 95.2 | 96.5 |
| 2021 | 94.7 | 96.1 |
| 2022 | 97.1 | 97.1 |
| 2023 | 97.7 | 98.2 |
| 2024 | 96.1 | 96.7 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,404 in Birmingham vs $1,470 in Jackson
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Jackson, MS
- Birmingham, AL
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Jackson, MS | Birmingham, AL | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | $897 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | $898 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | – | $900 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | – | $903 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | – | $911 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $969 | $923 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $975 | $917 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $978 | $916 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $980 | $927 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $996 | $936 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $988 | $942 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $995 | $939 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,015 | $954 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,005 | $974 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,006 | $970 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,022 | $984 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,021 | $990 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,020 | $1,008 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,036 | $1,012 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,053 | $1,011 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,064 | $1,027 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,057 | $1,036 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,079 | $1,062 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,087 | $1,069 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,097 | $1,080 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,143 | $1,123 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,165 | $1,161 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,173 | $1,175 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,185 | $1,197 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,224 | $1,225 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,259 | $1,239 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,249 | $1,231 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,250 | $1,255 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,289 | $1,289 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,295 | $1,297 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,290 | $1,289 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,308 | $1,308 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,345 | $1,325 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,359 | $1,337 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,367 | $1,338 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,382 | $1,351 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,397 | $1,367 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,415 | $1,364 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,426 | $1,361 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,439 | $1,371 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,459 | $1,383 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,470 | $1,404 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $261,000 in Birmingham vs $212,000 in Jackson
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Jackson, MS
- Birmingham, AL
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Jackson, MS | Birmingham, AL | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $126K | $147K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $129K | $149K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $131K | $150K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $133K | $153K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $134K | $154K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $135K | $155K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $136K | $155K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $137K | $157K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $137K | $159K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $138K | $160K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $139K | $162K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $141K | $164K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $142K | $166K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $143K | $167K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $144K | $170K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $145K | $172K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $148K | $176K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $151K | $178K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $152K | $179K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $153K | $183K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $155K | $188K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $156K | $191K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $158K | $195K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $163K | $203K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $169K | $211K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $175K | $219K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $179K | $224K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $184K | $230K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $190K | $242K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $195K | $252K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $198K | $255K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $198K | $253K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $195K | $251K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $199K | $255K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $201K | $256K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $198K | $254K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $198K | $254K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $201K | $255K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $200K | $254K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $203K | $255K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $208K | $255K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $207K | $254K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $207K | $254K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $208K | $256K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $212K | $258K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $213K | $259K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $212K | $261K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.