Most expensive cities for renters in Alabama
Cities in Alabama ranked by highest median rent. Cities with 15,000+ residents. Updated monthly.
Key findings
- Chelsea ranks first, with a median rent of $2,135/mo.
- Across all 39 cities on this list, the median rent is $1,411/mo.
Data as of September 2026. Median rent from RentDataNow's monthly city data (Zillow's rent index where Zillow covers the city). Rank a year ago compares the same cities' rent 12 months earlier. Updated monthly. Download this list (CSV)
Best value (RRS)Overheated (RRS)Most affordableMost expensiveRent fallingRent risingBest rent/incomeMost rent-burdenedRecord-high rentSeasonal swingsRent vs. income
39 cities
| Rank | City | Median rent | 1-yr change | 5-yr change | Rent/income | Vs. a year ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | ChelseaAL | $2,135/mo | +3.5% | -- | 22.2% | same |
| 02 | Vestavia HillsAL | $1,953/mo | +8.1% | -- | 17.4% | ↑2 from #4 |
| 03 | HelenaAL | $1,905/mo | 0.0% | -- | 19.9% | -- |
| 04 | AlabasterAL | $1,881/mo | +3.2% | -- | 24.7% | ↓1 from #3 |
| 05 | PelhamAL | $1,808/mo | 0.0% | -- | 21.5% | -- |
| 06 | Gulf ShoresAL | $1,790/mo | -4.3% | -- | 27.5% | ↓4 from #2 |
| 07 | FairhopeAL | $1,771/mo | +2.1% | -- | 22.5% | ↓2 from #5 |
| 08 | TrussvilleAL | $1,746/mo | +2.0% | -- | 17.0% | ↓2 from #6 |
| 09 | TuscaloosaAL | $1,701/mo | +4.9% | +32.9% | 39.7% | ↓1 from #8 |
| 10 | PrattvilleAL | $1,700/mo | +6.3% | -- | 25.1% | same |
| 11 | FoleyAL | $1,691/mo | +3.4% | -- | 30.6% | ↓4 from #7 |
| 12 | AuburnAL | $1,681/mo | +6.4% | +40.9% | 31.7% | ↓1 from #11 |
| 13 | CaleraAL | $1,642/mo | +1.5% | +26.5% | 22.6% | ↓4 from #9 |
| 14 | DaphneAL | $1,612/mo | +5.5% | +19.9% | 22.2% | ↓2 from #12 |
| 15 | CullmanAL | $1,512/mo | +3.6% | -- | 29.6% | ↓2 from #13 |
| 16 | NorthportAL | $1,489/mo | +4.0% | -- | 22.1% | ↓2 from #14 |
| 17 | AthensAL | $1,475/mo | +4.5% | -- | 25.3% | same |
| 18 | EnterpriseAL | $1,466/mo | +2.7% | +29.2% | 24.1% | ↓3 from #15 |
| 19 | OpelikaAL | $1,437/mo | +1.6% | -- | 26.5% | ↓3 from #16 |
| 20 | MadisonAL | $1,411/mo | +2.4% | +7.4% | 12.6% | ↓2 from #18 |
| 21 | MillbrookAL | $1,408/mo | +5.7% | -- | 24.0% | ↓2 from #19 |
| 22 | SaralandAL | $1,404/mo | 0.0% | -- | 27.4% | -- |
| 23 | HomewoodAL | $1,384/mo | +5.6% | -- | 17.6% | ↓2 from #21 |
| 24 | Muscle ShoalsAL | $1,359/mo | 0.0% | -- | 21.5% | -- |
| 25 | BessemerAL | $1,349/mo | +1.7% | -- | 40.9% | ↓5 from #20 |
| 26 | HuntsvilleAL | $1,335/mo | +2.8% | +15.3% | 21.4% | ↓4 from #22 |
| 27 | HooverAL | $1,319/mo | +2.1% | +17.0% | 14.5% | ↓4 from #23 |
| 28 | Phenix CityAL | $1,312/mo | +5.3% | -- | 31.5% | ↓2 from #26 |
| 29 | BirminghamAL | $1,305/mo | +3.0% | +18.6% | 34.0% | ↓4 from #25 |
| 30 | MontgomeryAL | $1,305/mo | +2.3% | +26.7% | 27.6% | ↓6 from #24 |
| 31 | Center PointAL | $1,269/mo | +4.4% | +33.0% | 27.0% | ↓3 from #28 |
| 32 | HueytownAL | $1,265/mo | +3.6% | +29.1% | 24.2% | ↓5 from #27 |
| 33 | MobileAL | $1,258/mo | +4.2% | +30.6% | 28.2% | ↓4 from #29 |
| 34 | DothanAL | $1,210/mo | +3.0% | -- | 26.0% | ↓4 from #30 |
| 35 | FlorenceAL | $1,202/mo | +3.5% | -- | 27.6% | ↓4 from #31 |
| 36 | OxfordAL | $1,200/mo | +5.5% | -- | 19.4% | ↓4 from #32 |
| 37 | DecaturAL | $1,042/mo | +2.0% | -- | 20.3% | ↓4 from #33 |
| 38 | AnnistonAL | $909/mo | 0.0% | -- | 23.4% | -- |
| 39 | GadsdenAL | $882/mo | 0.0% | -- | 26.2% | -- |