Uprootmap
Columbus vs Birmingham
Columbus and Birmingham
Photo: acnatta/Andre Natta profile / Wikimedia, CC BY 2.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Birmingham are above the US rate in this release, 17.2 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Columbus to Birmingham
In 2022-2023, 30 households filed a move from Columbus to Birmingham (about 43 people, average adjusted gross income $93,667). 26 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,063 in Columbus and $1,106 in Birmingham. Columbus has a state tax on wages. Birmingham has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Birmingham is 92% of the national level for the same work, against 85% in Columbus.
Birmingham averages 213 sunny days, with July highs around 91°F and January nights around 33°F. Columbus is 222 sunny days, 91°F in July, 40°F in January. Commutes average 25 minutes in Birmingham and 22 in Columbus.
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.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 30 households moved Columbus → Birmingham (about 43 people, average AGI $93,667). 26 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 Columbus and Birmingham 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
Explore more
Dig into Birmingham
Questions
Is Birmingham cheaper than Columbus after tax and rent?
No. Birmingham leaves about $51 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,063 in Columbus and $1,106 in Birmingham.
Does Birmingham have state income tax?
Birmingham is in Alabama, which taxes wage income, plus a local wage tax of 1.00%.
Did people actually move from Columbus to Birmingham?
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.