Last updated on October 31, 2026

Average rent in
Birmingham, AL

Key takeaways for renters

  • The bottom line

    Birmingham, AL rent rose modestly year over year, with a current median of $1,195/month. Renters are paying $11 more per month than last year, and month-to-month rent is unchanged.

  • Birmingham is 37.1% more affordable than the $1,900/month national median, making it an accessible market for renters seeking value in the Southeast region.

  • Price ranges

    Studio rents in Birmingham run around $1,134/month, 1-bedrooms at $1,095/month, and 2-bedrooms at $1,050/month. Larger units include 3-bedrooms at $1,200/month and 4+ bedrooms at $1,385/month. This range reflects the city's rental options for different household sizes in Birmingham, AL.

Median rent

Median rent in Birmingham

$1,195/mo

increased by1%

vs previous year

The average rent in Birmingham is $1,195 per month as of October 2026. This is 37% below the national average rent, or $705 less per month.

$1.17

average price per square foot

Total rentals

Available rentals in Birmingham

979

for rent on Zumper.com as of October 2026

Rent price distribution

Share of Birmingham rentals at each price point

75%56%38%19%0%
$0 - $750
$751 - $1,500
$1,501 - $2,250
$2,251 - $3,000
$3,001+

Rent trends in Birmingham, AL

Average rent prices in Birmingham have remained the same over the last month and have increased by 1% since last year.

Rent trends

Rent prices on this page are calculated on a rolling 30-day basis and updated daily.

Compare rent prices in Birmingham, AL

Rent prices in Birmingham vary by bedroom size, rental type, and neighborhood. The average rent for an apartment in Birmingham is $1,129, whereas a house costs $1,200. 1-bedroom apartments in Birmingham run $1,087 on average, while 2-bedroom apartments are $1,089.

Listings

Studio

$1,133

7%

26%

1 bedroom

$1,095

No Change

4%

2 bedroom

$1,050

2%

No Change

3 bedroom

$1,200

No Change

4%

4 bedroom

$1,385

2%

7%

Studio

Average rent

$1,133

Last 30 days

7%

Last year

26%

1 bedroom

Average rent

$1,095

Last 30 days

No Change

Last year

4%

2 bedroom

Average rent

$1,050

Last 30 days

2%

Last year

No Change

3 bedroom

Average rent

$1,200

Last year

4%

4 bedroom

Average rent

$1,385

Last 30 days

2%

Last year

7%

The table above reflects average rent prices in Birmingham, AL, broken down by the number of bedrooms, neighborhoods, and property types. The availability of data for each category is dependent on market inventory and will adjust depending on your selected filters.

How does rent in Birmingham, AL compare to other cities?

Compare median rent prices in Birmingham and Adamsville by all bedroom counts and property types.

Birmingham

Median rent price$1,195
decreased by37%

lower than the national median

Median rent price$1,200
decreased by37%

lower than the national median

Takeaway

The median rent for all rentals in Birmingham, AL is equal to the median rent in Adamsville, AL.

Cost of living in Birmingham, AL

Explore the cost of essential expenses, and then use our rent calculator to find out how much rent you can afford.

Expenses
accrued by most renters
Average cost
compared to national average
Goods & Services5% lower
Groceries1% lower
Health15% lower
Housing24% lower
Transportation11% lower
Utilities2% higher

Discover rentals in Birmingham, AL

Emagine Properties L.L.C - Photo 1 of 1

4d ago

8.9

Very good

Emagine Properties L.L.C

920 4th Court West, Birmingham, AL 35204

1 bed

1 bath

$400

Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.
7740 3rd Ave S - Photo 1 of 1

5d+ ago

South Eastlake apartment for rent in Birmingham

RENTAL, 1 Story, BIRMINGHAM, AL

7740 3rd Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35206

2 beds

1 bath

$495

Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.
3826 39th Avenue North - Photo 1 of 1

1d ago

8.3

Very good

3826 39th Avenue North

3826 39th Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35217

2 beds

1 bath

$595

Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.
IG - 36th Avenue North - Photo 1 of 1

3d ago

8.5

Very good

IG - 36th Avenue North

4000 36th Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35217

2 beds

1 bath

$595

Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.

Stay up to date with rental market insights

Are you interested in licensing our current and historical rental real estate data, or do you have custom data requests? Contact datalicensing@zumper.com.

Frequently asked questions for Birmingham, AL

Quick answers to common questions about the Birmingham rental market.

How much is rent in Birmingham?

The average rent in Birmingham is $1,195 per month as of October 24, 2026.

Is rent up or down in Birmingham?

Average rent prices in Birmingham have remained the same over the last month and have increased by 1% since last year.

How does Birmingham rent compare to the national average?

Rent in Birmingham is 37% below the national average, which means renters are paying approximately $705 less per month.

Which neighborhoods are most affordable in Birmingham?

The most affordable neighborhoods in Birmingham are Arlington West End ($937/mo), Highland Park ($1,017/mo), and South Eastlake ($1,025/mo).

What salary do I need to afford rent in Birmingham?

To comfortably afford rent in Birmingham, you'd need to earn approximately $48,000/year, based on spending no more than 30% of your income on rent.

When is the best time of year to rent in Birmingham?

December stands out as the best time to apartment hunt in Birmingham, with the lowest seasonal rents and the least competition from other renters. February sees the highest rents, with roughly a 9% difference between peak and off-peak months.

Methodology

Rent prices are based on Zumper's rental listings from the past 30 days. Median rent is calculated across all available listings and property types on the platform. If you filter the page by bedroom count or property type, the pricing throughout the page will update automatically to reflect that segment of the rental market.

Household and population data come from the U.S. Census Bureau. Cost-of-living data is sourced from the Council for Community and Economic Research's Cost of Living Index (COLI).

Apartments for rent in Adamsville