2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Birmingham, AL vs Riverside, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Riverside or is it cheaper to live in Birmingham?
- Riverside is 50.8% more expensive than Birmingham.

Which city has more affordable housing, Riverside or Birmingham?
- Riverside housing costs are 555.0% more expensive than Birmingham housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Birmingham or is Health Care more affordable in Riverside.
- Health related expenses are 28.4% less in Riverside.
 Birmingham, ALRiverside, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock131.2100
 Food & Groceries93.3  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock87.3100
 Housing27.1  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$590,700$338,100
 Utilities101  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock146.1100
 Miscellaneous82.6  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Birmingham    25 Reviews

Birmingham is better than ever, meaning it is beginning to gain half of the stuff a normal city of its size has. The food scene is definitely an exception and is above  More

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Lived in the Birmingham for years. The small city was divided by the historical train tracks into the north half and the south one. The north section was the  More

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Over 5 years ago

I moved to Birmingham 6.5 years ago for a new job. The city is very boring in my opinion, there isn't much to do over the weekend except shopping or eating out. Summer  More

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Reviews for Riverside    42 Reviews

I've lived in Riverside for 54 years. It changed a LOT when people from LA started moving here in droves. Still, I have never been robbed or assaulted but I am  More

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I'm from Orange County (OC). I have had nothing but trouble since moving to Riverside. 1. The dogs are aggressive guard dogs. If you want to walk or bike you  More

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Over 7 years ago

Whew where to begin with dear old riverside. I enjoyed growing up here until my high school years (back in 2011). In 7 short years the downward deterioration of the  More

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