Studio Rent · July 2026

Studio Apartment Rent in Athens, AL

$890/mo

Median asking rent for a studio apartment in Athens, Alabama as of July 2026. That's +39% lower than the citywide median of $1,468 and +31% below the national studio median of $1,290.

Studio median
$890
July 2026
vs city overall
-39%
$1,468 city median
vs national
-31%
$1,290 US median
Alabama rank
#23
of 65 cities

Income needed for a studio in Athens

Using the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline (the threshold above which households are considered rent-burdened), here's what you need to earn to comfortably afford a studio at the current median rent.

Annual income
$35,600
Monthly gross
$2,967
Hourly (full-time)
$17.12

Rent by apartment size in Athens

Compare Athens's median rent across every apartment size.

Studio (current)
$890
1-Bedroom
$1,045
2-Bedroom
$1,215
3-Bedroom
$1,570
4+ Bedroom
$1,900

Cheapest cities for a studio in Alabama

#CityStudio rent
1Jasper$590
2Gadsden$620
3Daleville$670
4Enterprise$670
5Florence$670
6Ozark$670
7Jacksonville$680
8Cullman$700
9Troy$750
10Decatur$755
11Oxford$760
12Opelika$765
13Saraland$780
14Dothan$783
15Muscle Shoals$790

Most expensive cities for a studio in Alabama

#CityStudio rent
1Helena$1,450
2Owens Cross Roads$1,390
3Calera$1,290
4Hoover$1,270
5Madison$1,253
6Pike Road$1,240
7Pelham$1,220
8Vestavia Hills$1,210
9Trussville$1,210
10Homewood$1,210
11Meridianville$1,180
12Spanish Fort$1,170
13Chelsea$1,170
14Fairhope$1,140
15Alabaster$1,120

Nearby cities — studio rent

Considering nearby alternatives? 4 of these cities have cheaper studio rents than Athens.

CityDistanceStudio rentvs Athens
Decatur, AL15.6 mi$755$-135 (-15%)
Harvest, AL15.7 mi$1,040+$150 (+17%)
Madison, AL15.8 mi$1,253+$363 (+41%)
Toney, AL20.1 mi$900+$10 (+1%)
Huntsville, AL26.8 mi$936+$46 (+5%)
Hazel Green, AL29.3 mi$910+$20 (+2%)
Meridianville, AL30.6 mi$1,180+$290 (+33%)
Owens Cross Roads, AL38 mi$1,390+$500 (+56%)
Muscle Shoals, AL40 mi$790$-100 (-11%)
New Market, AL40.5 mi$920+$30 (+3%)
Florence, AL46.8 mi$670$-220 (-25%)
Cullman, AL47.2 mi$700$-190 (-21%)

Studio rent in Athens — common questions

How much is a studio apartment in Athens?

As of July 2026, the median studio apartment rent in Athens, Alabama is $890 per month. This is +39% below the citywide median of $1,468.

What income do you need to afford a studio in Athens?

Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $35,600 ($2,967/month gross), which works out to roughly $17.12/hour at a full-time job.

Is Athens expensive for a studio compared to the rest of the US?

Athens's studio median of $890 is +31% below the national studio median of $1,290. It ranks in the 18th percentile of US cities tracked.

How does Athens rank for studio rent in Alabama?

Among the 65 cities in Alabama with studio data, Athens ranks #23 from cheapest to most expensive.

Are there cheaper studio options near Athens?

Yes — nearby cities with cheaper studio rents include Decatur ($755), Muscle Shoals ($790), Florence ($670).

All rent data
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Methodology: Bedroom-level rent medians come from HUD Fair Market Rent data calibrated to the Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) for Athens, which serves as the citywide anchor. When the HUD bedroom values exceed the ZORI city median (a common quirk in luxury markets and small samples), bedroom values are proportionally scaled down to align. Income required uses the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline. Comparison rankings use the same data month across all cities (July 2026) and exclude cities with median rent below $400 or above $20,000.