Rents are right about where Phenix City's 10-year trend predicts.
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 $1,312 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 Phenix City is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in October 2022.
Rent in Phenix City changed +5.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 48 Alabama cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.3%.
Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($50,053) is $1,251 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,070); a 3-bedroom is $1,410.
The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Phenix City, 36870 ($1,455/mo), costs 28% more than the cheapest, 36867 ($1,135/mo).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Phenix City. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Phenix City, AL is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 23.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Phenix City, AL has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2023, rent in Phenix City, AL has climbed by $216 per month, settling near $1,312 after starting the period at $1,096. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $43,296 in 2021 to $50,053 more recently. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 4.1 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Phenix City, AL market of 2023.
Discussions about Phenix City
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Phenix City on your salary?
At $1,312/mo, how Phenix City rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Phenix City rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Phenix City. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Phenix City
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Phenix City is $1,312/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $823/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,070/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $913/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,410/mo.
At 31% of local median household income ($50,053/yr), Phenix City ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.3% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Phenix City?
Is rent going up or down in Phenix City?
Which Phenix City neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Phenix City rent compare to other cities in Alabama?
At $1,312/mo, rent takes ~31% of Phenix City's median household income ($50,053/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Phenix City.
No discussions yet.