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

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Mobile, AL is $1,311. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Mobile cheaper than other Alabama cities?

Mobile is among the more affordable cities in Alabama, ranking #54 out of 70 cities at $1,311/mo.

When was Mobile rent data last updated?

Mobile 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

Mobile

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

Pop. 203,416·54th most expensive in Alabama·Mobile rents are up 5.5% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$1,311/mo

Year-over-Year

+5.5%

Month-over-Month

-0.1%

vs US Median

-$654

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Mobile · $1,311

More affordable than 87% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

56/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 3% below what Mobile's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$1,311/mo

Expected by trend

$1,350/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$836

1 BR

$933

2 BR

$1,128

3 BR

$1,488

4 BR+

$1,512

Research median

$1,128/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

$15,732/yr

At $1,311/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (5.5% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+5.5% YoY, -0.1% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Mobile, AL is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income below the national average, 32% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

203,416

Median income

$53,558

Median age

37.3

Renters

46%

Age distribution

22.2%

24.8%

23%

12.5%

17.4%

Under 1822.2%

18–3424.8%

35–5423%

55–6412.5%

65+17.4%

Gender

46.7%

53.3%

Male46.7%

Female53.3%

Race & ethnicity

41.9%

50.4%

White41.9%

Black50.4%

Hispanic3.7%

Asian2.2%

Other1.7%

Education (25+)

29.1%

29.9%

32%

No HS diploma9%

HS diploma29.1%

Some college29.9%

Bachelor's+32%

Housing tenure

54%

46%

Owner54%

Renter46%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Mobile, AL has changed in 5 years

Rent

$927 → $1,311

up 41.4%

Income

$44,780 → $53,558

up 19.6%

Population

187,445 → 203,416

up 8.5%

Renter share

49% → 46%

-3.0 pts

Bachelor's+

30.2% → 32%

+1.8 pts

Median age

37.8 → 37.3

-0.5 yrs

Across the past five years, the going rent in Mobile, AL has shifted from $927 to $1,311, up 41.4% since 2021. Household income in the area moved from $44,780 to $53,558 across the same window, up 19.6% versus 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Mobile, AL adding about 15,971 residents over the five-year window, up 8.5% on net. The renter share has eased from 49% to 46%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Mobile, AL look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

Discussions about Mobile

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View Mobile rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Mobile on your salary?

At $1,311/mo, how Mobile rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $81,253/yr · Rent = 19.4% income

very comfortable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $57,689/yr · Rent = 27.3% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $66,452/yr · Rent = 23.7% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $118,775/yr · Rent = 13.2% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $151,764/yr · Rent = 10.4% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $54,017/yr · Rent = 29.1% income

affordable

Truck Driver

Avg $48,771/yr · Rent = 32.3% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $60,114/yr · Rent = 26.2% income

affordable

By apartment size

Mobile rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Mobile

About renting in Mobile, AL

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Mobile is $1,311/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $836/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,128/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $933/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,488/mo.

At 29% of local median household income ($53,558/yr), Mobile ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Mobile an affordable city for renters?

Mobile is considered affordable for renters. At $1,311/mo, rent takes approximately 29% of the local median household income ($53,558/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Mobile falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Mobile?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $52,000/year (~$25/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,311/mo in Mobile. The local median household income is $53,558/yr, meaning the typical Mobile household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Mobile?

Rent in Mobile has increased 5.5% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Mobile neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Mobile are 36609 ($1,018/mo), 36605 ($1,225/mo), and 36606 ($1,285/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Mobile is $1,311/mo.

How does Mobile rent compare to other cities in Alabama?

Mobile is one of the more affordable cities in Alabama for rent, ranking #54 out of 70 tracked cities at $1,311/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Mobile?

Chickasaw is nearby and more affordable at $1,050/mo, which is $261 less than Mobile.

What percentage of Mobile residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 46% of Mobile households are renters, while 54% are owner-occupied. Mobile leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.