City comparison
Birmingham, AL vs Memphis, TN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Birmingham, AL (91.6) and Memphis, TN (92.2, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Birmingham, AL goes as far as $100,600 in Memphis, TN.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,155 a month in Birmingham, AL and $1,154 in Memphis, TN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,735 a year higher in Birmingham, AL than in Memphis, TN.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.0% moving from Birmingham, AL to Memphis, TN ($107,510 → $106,437), while prices change by +0.6%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.6% in real buying power.
- Birmingham, AL: price level 91.6 (much cheaper)
- Memphis, TN: price level 92.2 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Birmingham, AL | Memphis, TN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.6 | 92.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,584 in Memphis | $99,420 in Birmingham |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,155/mo | $1,154/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,445 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,735 (AL) | $0 (TN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,770 | $46,890 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Birmingham-Hoover, AL HUD Metro FMR Area and Memphis, TN-MS-AR HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Birmingham, AL and Memphis, TN-MS-AR.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Birmingham | Memphis |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 71.9 | 79.8 |
| Goods | 96.4 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 83.8 | 74.1 |
| Other services | 96.7 | 95.4 |
| Overall | 91.6 | 92.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Birmingham, AL → Memphis, TN
Roughly even
Buying power −0.6%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$4,735/yr.
67 Fair offer
Memphis, TN → Birmingham, AL
Roughly even
Buying power +0.6%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$4,735/yr.
71 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Birmingham, AL is in the Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL pay area; Memphis, TN is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Birmingham, AL to Memphis, TN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Birmingham, AL | Memphis, TN | Real change, Birmingham → Memphis |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,344 | $61,722 | −1.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,431 | $74,678 | −1.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,410 | $89,508 | −1.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,510 | $106,437 | −1.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,044 | $125,776 | −1.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Birmingham, AL | Memphis, TN | Memphis pay in Birmingham dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $62,630 | $61,510 | $61,153 (−2.4%) |
| Software Developers | $125,410 | $125,580 | $124,851 (−0.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,660 | $76,960 | $76,513 (−2.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $78,680 | $81,500 | $81,027 (+3.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.