City Comparison

Birmingham vs Everett

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Birmingham

Alabama
87
Below Average
$165,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$38,178
Median Income

Everett

Washington
136
Expensive
$575,000
Median Home
$1,800/mo
Median Rent
$75,400
Median Income

The Verdict

36.0%

Birmingham is 36.0% less expensive than Everett overall. A household earning $75,000 in Birmingham would need approximately $117,241 in Everett to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
67
Birmingham
192
Everett
Groceries
96
Birmingham
109
Everett
Utilities
92
Birmingham
92
Everett
Transportation
99
Birmingham
117
Everett
Healthcare
91
Birmingham
122
Everett

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Birmingham has the same purchasing power as $117,241 in Everett.

Conversely, $75,000 in Everett equals $47,978 in Birmingham.

Living in Birmingham vs Everett

Housing Costs

Birmingham's housing index of 67 is lower Everett's 192, translating to median home prices of $165,000 vs $575,000. The $410,000 difference in home prices means roughly $26,652 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Birmingham compared to $1,800/mo in Everett, a monthly difference of $800.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Birmingham and 109 in Everett. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Birmingham vs $518/month in Everett. Birmingham offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $744/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 92 in Birmingham and 92 in Everett. Monthly utility bills average approximately $368 in Birmingham vs $368 in Everett. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 91 in Birmingham and 122 in Everett. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 31-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $38,178 in Birmingham and $75,400 in Everett. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $43,883 and $55,441 respectively. Everett residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $891/month to housing in Birmingham vs $1,759/month in Everett. In Birmingham, median rent of $1,000/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Everett, median rent of $1,800/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 125 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Birmingham is 36.0% more affordable overall with an index of 87 vs 136.
A $75,000 salary in Birmingham has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $117,241 in Everett, based on the cost of living difference.
Birmingham's housing index is 67 with median homes at $165,000, while Everett's is 192 with median homes at $575,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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