How much does it cost to rent in Birmingham, AL?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Birmingham, AL is $1,359. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Birmingham cheaper than other Alabama cities?

Birmingham is among the more affordable cities in Alabama, ranking #47 out of 70 cities at $1,359/mo.

When was Birmingham rent data last updated?

Birmingham rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · AL

Birmingham

Name: Average Rent Prices in Birmingham, AL
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 198,173·47th most expensive in Alabama·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$1,359/mo

Year-over-Year

+4.1%

Month-over-Month

+0.6%

vs US Median

-$606

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Birmingham · $1,359

More affordable than 84% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

52/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are right about where Birmingham's 10-year trend predicts.

Actual rent

$1,359/mo

Expected by trend

$1,375/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Birmingham's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,042

1 BR

$1,186

2 BR

$1,323

3 BR

$1,657

4 BR+

$1,863

Research median

$1,323/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$16,308/yr

At $1,359/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (4.1% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+4.1% YoY, +0.6% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Birmingham, AL is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 31.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

198,173

Median income

$46,051

Median age

35.6

Renters

54.5%

Age distribution

18.9%

30.3%

22.1%

12.4%

16.4%

Under 1818.9%

18–3430.3%

35–5422.1%

55–6412.4%

65+16.4%

Gender

46.9%

53.1%

Male46.9%

Female53.1%

Race & ethnicity

24.8%

66.9%

White24.8%

Black66.9%

Hispanic4.8%

Asian1.4%

Other2.1%

Education (25+)

28.3%

29.6%

31.1%

No HS diploma11%

HS diploma28.3%

Some college29.6%

Bachelor's+31.1%

Housing tenure

45.5%

54.5%

Owner45.5%

Renter54.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Birmingham, AL has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,038 → $1,359

up 30.9%

Income

$39,403 → $46,051

up 16.9%

Population

202,234 → 198,173

down 2.0%

Renter share

54.2% → 54.5%

+0.3 pts

Bachelor's+

28.8% → 31.1%

+2.3 pts

Median age

36.2 → 35.6

-0.6 yrs

Across the past five years, the going rent in Birmingham, AL has shifted from $1,038 to $1,359, up 30.9% since 2021. Household income in the area moved from $39,403 to $46,051 across the same window, up 16.9% versus 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Birmingham, AL losing about 4,061 residents over the five-year window, down 2.0% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 28.8% to 31.1% across the same window. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Birmingham, AL look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

Discussions about Birmingham

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View Birmingham rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Birmingham on your salary?

At $1,359/mo, how Birmingham rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $81,253/yr · Rent = 20.1% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $57,689/yr · Rent = 28.3% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $66,452/yr · Rent = 24.5% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $118,775/yr · Rent = 13.7% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $151,764/yr · Rent = 10.7% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $54,017/yr · Rent = 30.2% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $48,771/yr · Rent = 33.4% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $60,114/yr · Rent = 27.1% income

affordable

By apartment size

Birmingham rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Birmingham. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Birmingham

About renting in Birmingham, AL

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Birmingham is $1,359/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,042/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,323/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,186/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,657/mo.

At 35% of local median household income ($46,051/yr), Birmingham ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.1% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Birmingham an affordable city for renters?

Birmingham is considered moderate for renters. At $1,359/mo, rent takes approximately 35% of the local median household income ($46,051/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Birmingham slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Birmingham?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $54,000/year (~$26/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,359/mo in Birmingham. The local median household income is $46,051/yr, meaning the typical Birmingham household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Birmingham?

Rent in Birmingham has increased 4.1% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Birmingham neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Birmingham are 35218 ($1,007/mo), 35206 ($1,075/mo), and 35205 ($1,080/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Birmingham is $1,359/mo.

How does Birmingham rent compare to other cities in Alabama?

Birmingham is one of the more affordable cities in Alabama for rent, ranking #47 out of 70 tracked cities at $1,359/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Birmingham?

Tarrant is nearby and more affordable at $1,074/mo, which is $285 less than Birmingham.

What percentage of Birmingham residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 54.5% of Birmingham households are renters, while 45.5% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Birmingham has a strong rental market.

How does Birmingham rent compare to the national average?

Birmingham's median rent of $1,359/mo is $606 (31%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Alabama, it ranks #47 out of 70 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

35%

MODERATE

At $1,359/mo, rent takes ~35% of Birmingham's median household income ($46,051/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Birmingham 35%Benchmark 30%

State income tax2–5%

Run the Birmingham affordability calculator →

Nearby cities