Performance
Score Breakdown
Birmingham
Mobile
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Mobile is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
3% higher compared to Birmingham.
| Metric | Birmingham | Mobile | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,320 | $1,270 | +4% |
| Groceries | $495 | $485 | +2% |
| Utilities | $205 | $210 | -2% |
| Transport | $170 | $165 | +3% |
| Healthcare | $395 | $390 | +1% |
| Monthly Total | $2,585 | $2,520 | +3% |
| Cost Index | 89 | 89 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Birmingham offers 6% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Birmingham delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Birmingham is estimated at
$54,000 vs $51,500 in Mobile.
| Metric | Birmingham | Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $61,000 | $57,500 |
| Salary Needed | $54,000 | $51,500 |
| Purchasing Power | 68,539 idx | 64,607 idx |
| Household Income | $56,500 | $51,800 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 4.1°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Birmingham sees 1.3 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Birmingham | Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 64.10°F | 68.20°F |
| Summer High | 91.00°F | 91.00°F |
| Winter Low | 36.00°F | 41.00°F |
| Rainfall | 56.50 in | 66.30 in |
| Snowfall | 1.30 in | 0.00 in |
| Sunny Days | 214 | 217 |
| Humidity | 69.00% | 74.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 1 minutes of each other.
Birmingham scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Mobile leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Birmingham | Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 24 min | 23 min |
| Transit Score | 41.8/10 | 35.6/10 |
| Walkability | 45.1/10 | 48.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 52.40 | 49.20 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Birmingham is the larger city
— approximately 1.1x the population of Mobile.
From a growth perspective, Birmingham is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Birmingham has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Birmingham | Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 196,910 | 184,289 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.80% | 0.40% |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 38.4 |
| Unemployment | 4.10% | 4.60% |
| GDP | $52.0B | $31.0B |
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Birmingham
#14Alabama, USA
78.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,320
Avg Salary
$61,000
Cost Index
89
Commute
24 min
Transit Score
41.8/10
Walkability
45.1/10
Sunny Days
214/yr
Avg Temp
64.10°F
Pop. Growth
0.80%
Unemployment
4.10%
Livability
77
Business
79
Mobile
#18Alabama, USA
73.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,270
Avg Salary
$57,500
Cost Index
89
Commute
23 min
Transit Score
35.6/10
Walkability
48.0/10
Sunny Days
217/yr
Avg Temp
68.20°F
Pop. Growth
0.40%
Unemployment
4.60%
Livability
74
Business
73
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