Birmingham, Alabama | City Guide for Travel Healthcare Pros

Known as the “Magic City,” Birmingham has grown from its steel-town roots into a thriving southern metro with world-class healthcare systems, a revitalized downtown, and affordable living. For travel nurses, it’s a warm and welcoming destination offering southern hospitality, big-city amenities, and plenty of green spaces to explore between shifts.

💰 Cost of Living

Birmingham is one of the most affordable large cities in the South, allowing your travel nurse stipend to stretch further.

• Overall cost of living index: ~92 (8% lower than U.S. average)BestPlaces

• Housing costs: 24% lower than national averageRentCafe

• Median rent for a 1-bedroom: ~$1,100/monthApartments.com

  
  

Summary: Birmingham offers excellent value with affordable housing, reasonable utility costs, and low everyday expenses — ideal for nurses looking to save during an assignment.

🌤️ Weather by Month

Birmingham has a humid subtropical climate with hot summers, mild winters, and beautiful spring and fall seasons.

Month	Avg High	Avg Low	Description
January	~53°F	~34°F	❄ Cool, mild winter days
February	~58°F	~37°F	🌤 Increasing sunshine
March	~67°F	~45°F	🌱 Warming, occasional rain
April	~75°F	~52°F	🌼 Pleasant, ideal for outdoor time
May	~82°F	~61°F	☀ Warm and comfortable
June	~89°F	~69°F	🌤 Hot and humid begins
July	~91°F	~72°F	🔥 Hottest month, humid
August	~90°F	~71°F	🌥 Warm, scattered storms
September	~85°F	~66°F	🍂 Cooling, lower humidity
October	~75°F	~54°F	🍁 Crisp air, fall colors
November	~64°F	~44°F	🌬 Mild and pleasant
December	~55°F	~36°F	❄ Cool, shorter days

Tip: Pack both scrubs and layers — air conditioning runs high in summer and mornings can be chilly in winter.

🛏️ Furnished Housing Options

Birmingham has plenty of furnished and short-term rentals near its major hospitals.

• Furnished Rentals – Birmingham, AL (Travel Nurse Housing)Browse listings tailored for healthcare travelers.Travel Nurse Housing

• Monthly Rentals – Birmingham, AL (Furnished Finder)Dozens of verified monthly rentals, from shared spaces to full apartments.Furnished Finder

• Furnished Apartments – Birmingham, AL (Apartments.com)Search fully furnished apartments with flexible leases.Apartments.com

Tip: Focus your search near UAB Hospital, Ascension St. Vincent’s, or Brookwood Baptist Medical Center to minimize commute time.

🏨 Extended Stay Hotels

For nurses preferring hotel amenities and flexible check-in/check-out, Birmingham has several extended stay options with full kitchens and laundry:

• Extended Stay America – Birmingham – InvernessAffordable extended-stay with kitchenettes and weekly or monthly rates.Extended Stay America

• InTown Suites Extended Stay – Birmingham – Huffman RoadBudget-friendly weekly and monthly rates with in-room kitchens.InTown Suites

• Suburban Studios Birmingham Homewood I-65Extended stay hotel near Homewood with in-room kitchens and laundry.Suburban Studios

Tip: Many extended-stay hotels offer nurse discounts or special long-term rates if you call directly.

🚐 RV Parks & Campgrounds

If you’re traveling with an RV, Birmingham offers several great monthly-stay options near major highways and hospitals:

• Birmingham South RV Park – Pelham, ALFull hookups, pool, laundry, and Wi-Fi with monthly rates starting around $700+.Birmingham South RV Park

• Time Away RV Resort – Lincoln, ALEasy access off I-20, 30/50 amp sites, and community amenities.Time Away RV Resort

• Carson Village Homes & RV Community – Birmingham, ALQuiet community setting with extended-stay RV and mobile home spaces.Carson Village Homes & RV Community

Tip: Book early if traveling in winter when southern RV parks fill with snowbirds.

🎉 Things to Do in Birmingham

• Explore Railroad Park and Regions Field downtown for events and local baseball.

• Visit the Civil Rights District, 16th Street Baptist Church, and Birmingham Civil Rights Institute for history and inspiration.

• Discover the Birmingham Museum of Art or Vulcan Park for stunning skyline views.

• Sample southern cuisine at Saw’s BBQ, El Barrio, or Automatic Seafood.

• Hike Red Mountain Park or paddle Oak Mountain State Park for a nature break.

Skip to Timestamp 4:00 for a quick ride through Alabama

🧳 Nearby Weekend Trips

• Chattanooga, TN – 2 hours north for scenic mountain getaways.

• Gulf Shores, AL – 4.5 hours south for a beach weekend.

• Atlanta, GA – 2.5 hours east for big-city attractions.

• Tuscaloosa, AL – 1 hour west for college-town fun and football weekends.

⏳ Summary

Birmingham offers travel nurses the best of both worlds — affordable cost of living and access to high-quality healthcare facilities, all in a city known for its rich history and southern charm.

✅ Low housing and living costs

✅ Major hospital systems and supportive medical community

✅ Multiple furnished housing, hotel, and RV options

⚠️ Humid summers and variable traffic near downtown

Disclosure: The information provided in this guide is what I use to send my travelers and is obtained through ChatGPT, utilizing prompts I frequently use as a travel nurse recruiter. The content is designed to help travelers make informed decisions about potential destinations.