Birmingham vs Roswell
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Birmingham
Roswell
The Verdict
Birmingham is 23.0% less expensive than Roswell overall. A household earning $75,000 in Birmingham would need approximately $97,414 in Roswell to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Birmingham has the same purchasing power as $97,414 in Roswell.
Conversely, $75,000 in Roswell equals $57,743 in Birmingham.
Living in Birmingham vs Roswell
Housing Costs
Birmingham's housing index of 67 is lower Roswell's 187, translating to median home prices of $165,000 vs $647,000. The $482,000 difference in home prices means roughly $31,332 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Birmingham compared to $1,700/mo in Roswell, a monthly difference of $700.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 96 in Birmingham and 101 in Roswell. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Birmingham vs $480/month in Roswell. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 92 in Birmingham and 98 in Roswell. Monthly utility bills average approximately $368 in Birmingham vs $392 in Roswell. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 91 in Birmingham and 103 in Roswell. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 12-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 $108,800 in Roswell. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $43,883 and $96,283 respectively. Roswell 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 $2,539/month in Roswell. In Birmingham, median rent of $1,000/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Roswell, median rent of $1,700/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 120 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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