Uprootmap
Birmingham vs Columbus
Birmingham and Columbus
Photo: PghPhxNfk / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Columbus are above the US rate in this release, 20.8 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Birmingham to Columbus
In 2022-2023, 26 households filed a move from Birmingham to Columbus (about 48 people, average adjusted gross income $51,885). 30 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,106 in Birmingham and $1,063 in Columbus. Birmingham has a state tax on wages. Columbus has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Columbus is 85% of the national level for the same work, against 92% in Birmingham.
Columbus averages 222 sunny days, with July highs around 91°F and January nights around 40°F. Birmingham is 213 sunny days, 91°F in July, 33°F in January. Commutes average 22 minutes in Columbus and 25 in Birmingham.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
+$51 / mo
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 26 households moved Birmingham → Columbus (about 48 people, average AGI $51,885). 30 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Birmingham and Columbus changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 162 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,700–$3,200
- Container or pod
- $1,150–$2,150
- Rent a truck
- $450–$800
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Dig into Columbus
Questions
Is Columbus cheaper than Birmingham after tax and rent?
Yes. Columbus leaves about $51 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,106 in Birmingham and $1,063 in Columbus.
Does Columbus have state income tax?
Columbus is in Georgia, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Birmingham to Columbus?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.