salaryRent is higher than in 60% of U.S. cities. Household incomes are higher than in 93% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 4.2 years of household income. Most homes (77.1%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find. It is a highly educated city: 76.7% of adults have a college degree.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $73,640 a year. That is $35 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other Michigan cities?
No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Michigan. It is number 159 of 179 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Birmingham?
Share of households by yearly income. 56.9% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Birmingham
| Size | Birmingham | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,268 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,591 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,225 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,801 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,500+ | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Birmingham overall?
Everyday prices in Michigan overall are 4% below the U.S. average (index 96.2, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Birmingham, so the Michigan figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Birmingham
Life in Birmingham
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Birmingham?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $3,004 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $698,300 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $69,830 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Birmingham, MI?
Renting in Birmingham costs a median of about $1,841 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Michigan median is $1,314.
How much do I need to make to live in Birmingham?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $73,640 a year, or $35 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Birmingham cheap or expensive?
Birmingham is rated Cheap: rent takes 13.3% of the typical household income of $165,561. It ranks 159th cheapest of 179 Michigan cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Birmingham?
The median homeowner in Birmingham pays $10,000+ a year in property taxes, about 1.43% of the median home value.
Is Birmingham more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in Michigan are 4% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Birmingham?
The median home value in Birmingham is $698,300, about 4.2 times the typical yearly household income.
21,763 people live in Birmingham. Numbers are typical (middle) values.