At $1,790/mo, rent takes about 27% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,790 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Gulf Shores is 6.7% below its high of $1,919 in November 2025, at $1,790 as of September 2026.
Rent in Gulf Shores changed -4.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 48 Alabama cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.3%.
Rent has fallen 5 months in a row, and rose in 3 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($78,188) is $1,955 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,590); a 4-bedroom is $2,030.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Gulf Shores. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Gulf Shores, AL is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 39.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Gulf Shores, AL has changed in 5 years
On the earnings side, the typical household in Gulf Shores, AL now reports about $78,188, up from $53,048 in 2021. Census counts show Gulf Shores, AL adding about 1,689 residents over the five-year window, up 11.5% on net. The renter share has eased from 40.2% to 29.4%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 34.9% to 39.9% across the same window.
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Can you afford rent in Gulf Shores on your salary?
At $1,790/mo, how Gulf Shores rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Gulf Shores rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Gulf Shores. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Gulf Shores
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Gulf Shores is $1,790/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,000/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,280/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,070/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,590/mo.
At 27% of local median household income ($78,188/yr), Gulf Shores ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 4.3% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in Gulf Shores?
How does Gulf Shores rent compare to other cities in Alabama?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Gulf Shores?
At $1,790/mo, rent takes ~27% of Gulf Shores's median household income ($78,188/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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