Which place is cheaper, New York City or Birmingham?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Birmingham and New York City can help you decide which place is right for you.
Birmingham is a historic, vibrant, and fun-filled city. This is a quaint and attractive place to visit, too. Other reasons to visit include shopping, museums, and theater. See Birmingham travel costs.
New York City is a energetic, cosmopolitan, and one-of-a-kind city. It's an amazing and huge city with tons of activities and things to do. New York City is a gorgeous place to visit. Other reasons to visit include shopping, museums, and theater. See New York City travel costs.
Travelers will usually find more to do in New York City than Birmingham, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. New York City is more popular for its museums and attractions, theatre productions, food, nightlife, shopping, christmas markets, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Birmingham is known for its quaint atmosphere. New York City is more touristy than Birmingham and is known for its high-reaching skyscrapers, iconic landmarks, world-class theater scene, and endless energy. It is also home to The Statue of Liberty. Birmingham is popular for its strong musical routes and its very livable atmosphere.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between New York City and Birmingham. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
New York City is an amazing city to visit for its historical sights. Also, Birmingham is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its sights and museums.
Travelers visit New York City from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. The sights and museums around the city are too numerous to list, but some of the most famous include the Statue of Liberty, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, Central Park, and the Empire State Building. This is a city that is filled with iconic landmarks and you could spend weeks here and still not see it all.
With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Birmingham can be an interesting and educational experience. Famous sights include the Museum & Art Gallery, Thinktank, and St. Philip's Cathedral.
New York City is an amazing city to visit for theatre. Also, Birmingham is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its theatre productions.
The theater scene in New York City is world-class. Visiting Broadway is a quintessential NYC experience. Whether you enjoy the theater or simply want to experience something new, seeing a Broadway show is a true bucket list activity.
Many visitors plan to see a show while visiting Birmingham. The impressive theater scene includes Broadway shows and musicals. Birmingham Hippodrome is a major theater in town.
New York City is an amazing city to visit for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Birmingham is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its local cuisine and restaurants.
New York City has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. The city has a diverse variety of restaurants, with everything from local dives to Michelin star options. There are many neighborhoods that are notable for their ethnic cuisine, particularly Little Italy and Chinatown. Quintessential NYC dishes include NYC pizza, NYC hot dogs, bagels, and Chinese dim sum.
Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Birmingham. Food reviews are mixed around town. The city has its share of award-winning restaurants, but there are also popular dishes that are more of an acquired taste. Local flavors include pork scratching, Birmingham soup, and brummie bacon cakes.
New York City is an amazing city to visit for nightlife. Also, Birmingham is not as popular, but is still a nice city for nightlife and partying.
New York City has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. Known as the city that never sleeps, you can be assured that NYC has some of the best nightlife in the world. There are world class bars and clubs, but also local venues that have a more relaxed atmosphere. Several famous clubs include Paul's Cocktail Lounge, Le Bain, and Avant Gardner.
Birmingham has plenty to do after the sun goes down. With tons of students and young people looking to party, there is plenty to do in the evening. You'll find no shortage of pubs, clubs, and music venues around town.
Birmingham and New York City are both destinations where visitors can find first-rate live music.
Birmingham is known as a music capital around the world. The city has long been a haven for musical creativity, and its influence over the global music scene is apparent. Popular music venues around town include Ghetto Golf, Digbeth Dining Club, and the Sunflower Lounge.
Live music, and music in many other forms, is everyone in New York City Popular music venues include Music Hall of Williamsburg, Radio City Music Hall, Beacon Theatre, and Forest Hills Stadium.
New York City is an amazing city to visit for shopping. Also, Birmingham is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its shopping opportunities.
People travel from around the world to go shopping in New York City. The shopping is as diverse as the city itself. Head for Fifth Avenue for high end shopping or check out any of the many street markets for local items. New York is known for its many flea markets where you can find vintage items at a good price. And if you're looking to pick up a souvenir shirt or knick knack, there are plenty of souvenir shops around town as well.
Birmingham is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. The city offers everything from large department stores to smaller local shops. There are several good shopping streets around town as well as large markets and even a jewelry quarter.
New York City is very good for its scenery and beauty. However, Birmingham is not a destination known for its beauty.
New York City is a gorgeous place to visit. The beauty of the skyline at night or the views from the top of the Empire State Building will take your breath away.
Birmingham is not a destination known for its beauty.
You'll find high quality kid-friendly activities in either Birmingham or New York City.
Birmingham is a very family-friendly destination. The city has put effort into making sure there are plenty of family-friendly activities around. You can visit a chocolate factory, explore an aquarium, enjoy an animal safari, or explore one of the hands-on museums.
New York City is a very kid-friendly city. The city has many activities for kids of all ages including world class museums, beautifully designed playgrounds, and theater shows designed just for young ones. There are many kid-friendly restaurants as well and older kids will enjoy visiting the iconic landmarks in this world-class city.
New York City is an amazing city to visit for romance. Also, Birmingham is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its romantic activities.
For those traveling as a couple, New York City has plenty to offer. From a beautiful carriage ride through Central Park, to a romantic river cruise at night, there is an endless list of unique activities that couples can enjoy in the city. Whether you're interested in theater, the arts, music, or nightlife, this city has it all.
Birmingham is a very popular place to visit for couples. Romantic activities around town include taking a beautiful stroll through town, wandering around a park or garden, or seeing the ballet.
New York City is great for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Birmingham is not a good destination for backpackers.
New York City is very popular with the backpacker crowd. It isn't a particularly budget-friendly destination, but it does get its share of backpackers, so you'll find a nice list of hostels and affordable hangouts that are perfect for the backpacker crowd. This is probably one of the most popular cities for backpackers in the entire United States.
Birmingham is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not the most popular destination for backpackers, but there's at least one affordable hostel in town.
For students, both Birmingham and New York City are first-rate places to visit.
Students come from all over the world to visit Birmingham. With world class academic institutions and a very diverse and international population, this is a popular place for international students to study.
New York City is a great destination for students. The city has a diverse population, and international students will feel right at home here exploring the city. There are also plenty of major universities including NYU, Columbia University, and Cornell University.
New York City is an amazing city to visit for times when you don't have a car. Also, Birmingham is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its public transit.
Public transit in New York City is top-notch. The city has one of the largest subway systems in the world. There's also an elaborate bus system, ferry system, and yellow taxis all around town.
Birmingham has a few public transit options. There is a reasonably comprehensive bus system.
New York City is an amazing city to visit for its walkability. Also, Birmingham is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its high level of walkability.
New York City is a very easy city to get around on foot. The majority of the neighborhoods in Manhattan are very walkable and easy to explore on foot. Most people prefer not to drive here as it can be overwhelming and chaotic.
Birmingham is a very walkable city. Many parts of the city are very walkable.
For even more information, also check out Is Birmingham Worth Visiting? and Is New York City Worth Visiting?.
Both Birmingham and New York City have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in New York City than in Birmingham. Usually, 1-5 days is a good amount of time for Birmingham, and 3-7 days is enough time in New York City.
Families should spend more time in New York City than Birmingham. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in New York City, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in New York City than Birmingham. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in New York City that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in New York City than Birmingham if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in New York City.
Many travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the historic destination of Birmingham. Don't miss the live music, as that's what most people do. Your budget might influence how long you stay. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then one day is just the right amount of time to spend here.
When visiting New York City, people usually allow for lots of time. Anyone can find something fun to do here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Birmingham. Don't miss the live music, as that's what most people do. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.
When visiting New York City, people usually allow for lots of time. It offers something for everyone. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.
Many travelers enjoy the museums and theater when visiting the bustling destination of Birmingham. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. If you have five days, this is a great place to go. Five days is usually enough time to experience most activities.
New York City, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for five days. In five days, you should have a good grasp of this city. Your budget might influence how long you stay.
You'll find theater and nightlife around the city of Birmingham. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.
New York City is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have one week, this city makes for a great vacation. One week should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United Kingdom, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United Kingdom, The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in Birmingham is $219, while the average daily cost in New York City is $363. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Birmingham and New York City in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Birmingham or New York City? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Also for Birmingham, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Some typical examples of transportation costs in New York City are as follows:
Also for New York City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both New York City and Birmingham change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Birmingham:
For Birmingham, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
For New York City, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
For New York City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Birmingham.
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for New York City's activities, tours, and tickets:
For New York City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
For more ideas for your next trip, check out The Best Things to do in New York City with Kids, Things to Do in Central Park in NYC, and The Best Museums in New York City.
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in New York City:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Birmingham and New York City, we can see that New York City is more expensive. And not only is Birmingham much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Birmingham is in Europe and New York City is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Birmingham would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Birmingham and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in New York City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in New York City than you might in Birmingham.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Birmingham Expensive? and Is New York City Expensive?.
New York City has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Birmingham. When comparing the sizes of Birmingham and New York City, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Birmingham and New York City. Many visitors come to Birmingham in the summer for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to New York City for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Birmingham is cooler than New York City in the summer. The daily temperature in Birmingham averages around 17°C (63°F) in July, and New York City fluctuates around 77°F (25°C).
New York City receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Birmingham usually receives less rain than New York City. Birmingham gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while New York City receives 4.5 inches (114 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
The autumn brings many poeple to Birmingham as well as New York City. Most visitors come to Birmingham for the shopping scene and the music scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to New York City because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Birmingham is cooler than New York City. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Birmingham in October average around 11°C (52°F), and New York City averages at about 57°F (14°C).
Birmingham usually gets less rain in October than New York City. Birmingham gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Both New York City and Birmingham are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The winter months attract visitors to Birmingham because of the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine are the main draw to New York City this time of year.
It's quite cold in New York City in the winter. The weather in Birmingham can be very cold. In January, Birmingham is generally much warmer than New York City. Daily temperatures in Birmingham average around 3°C (38°F), and New York City fluctuates around 31°F (-1°C).
In January, Birmingham usually receives less rain than New York City. Birmingham gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
Both New York City and Birmingham during the spring are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many travelers come to New York City for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
Birmingham is cooler than New York City in the spring. The daily temperature in Birmingham averages around 9°C (48°F) in April, and New York City fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).
Birmingham usually gets less rain in April than New York City. Birmingham gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.8 inches (98 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Birmingham | New York City | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 3°C (38°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 31°F (-1°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) |
Feb | 4°C (40°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 33°F (1°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) |
Mar | 6°C (42°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 42°F (6°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) |
Apr | 9°C (48°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 52°F (11°C) | 3.8 inches (98 mm) |
May | 12°C (53°F) | 52 mm (2.1 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) |
Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 72°F (22°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) |
Jul | 17°C (63°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 4.5 inches (114 mm) |
Aug | 17°C (62°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 76°F (24°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
Sep | 14°C (58°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) |
Oct | 11°C (52°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) |
Nov | 7°C (45°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 47°F (8°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
Dec | 5°C (40°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 36°F (2°C) | 3.4 inches (88 mm) |