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Rental Market Trends in Birmingham, AL

What is the average rent in Birmingham, AL?

$1,182/month

Average Rent

744 Sq Ft

Average Apartment Size

-0.1%

Decrease in the Last Year

As of May 2026, the average rent in Birmingham, AL is $1,182 per month. This is 28% lower than the national average rent of $1,644/month, making renting in Birmingham more affordable than most cities in the US. When you rent an apartment in Birmingham, you can expect to pay about $990 per month for a studio, $1,182 for a one-bedroom apartment, and around $1,304 for a two-bedroom apartment. If you opt for a three-bedroom rental, you could pay $1,603 or more.

Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Studio
$990/month
469 Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,182/month
744 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,304/month
1,034 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$1,603/month
1,343 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,323/month
714 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,300/month
790 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$1,461/month
1,114 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$1,791/month
1,451 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,373/month
720 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,585/month
444 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,356/month
420 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$2,238/month
919 Sq Ft

How much has average rent changed in Birmingham, AL?

In the past year, rent has decreased by 0.1%, which averages out to $1 less per month.

Market Trends Over Time   The chart below compares average rent prices to the previous year during the same time period.
Last Updated May 2026
Legend
2025 2026
Market Trends Over Time
Rent Ranges in Birmingham, AL
Last Updated May 2026
$1,001 - $1,500
Most rental prices fall within this range
Rent Ranges in Birmingham, AL
Percentage*
Rent Range
13% Below $700/month
36% $700 - $1,000/month
37% $1,001 - $1,500/month
11% $1,501 - $2,000/month
4% Above $2,000/month

Rent by Neighborhood

Last Updated Today
  • Most Affordable
  • Most Expensive
  • Most Available

What are the most affordable neighborhoods in Birmingham?

Based on current rent prices, Echo Highlands, Sun Valley and Glen Iris are the most affordable neighborhoods in Birmingham.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Echo Highlands
$794/month
697 Sq Ft
Sun Valley
$798/month
706 Sq Ft
Glen Iris
$1,006/month
758 Sq Ft
Oak Ridge Park
$1,031/month
778 Sq Ft
Avondale
$1,302/month
762 Sq Ft
Riverwood Estates
$1,305/month
758 Sq Ft
Crestline
$1,340/month
673 Sq Ft
Sand Ridge
$1,475/month
815 Sq Ft
Cahaba Heights
$1,477/month
776 Sq Ft
Five Points South
$1,494/month
671 Sq Ft

What are the most expensive neighborhoods in Birmingham?

Based on current rent prices, Highland Park, Fountain Heights and Southside are the most expensive neighborhoods in Birmingham.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Highland Park
$1,829/month
687 Sq Ft
Fountain Heights
$1,744/month
680 Sq Ft
Southside
$1,719/month
720 Sq Ft
Parkside
$1,695/month
694 Sq Ft
Central City
$1,645/month
652 Sq Ft
Midtown Birmingham
$1,581/month
694 Sq Ft
Downtown Birmingham
$1,538/month
700 Sq Ft
Five Points South
$1,494/month
671 Sq Ft
Cahaba Heights
$1,477/month
776 Sq Ft
Sand Ridge
$1,475/month
815 Sq Ft

Which Birmingham neighborhoods have the most rentals available?

The neighborhoods in Birmingham with the most apartments available are Downtown Birmingham, Midtown Birmingham and Parkside .

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Downtown Birmingham
$1,538/month
700 Sq Ft
Midtown Birmingham
$1,581/month
694 Sq Ft
Parkside
$1,695/month
694 Sq Ft
Five Points South
$1,494/month
671 Sq Ft
Cahaba Heights
$1,477/month
776 Sq Ft
Southside
$1,719/month
720 Sq Ft
Highland Park
$1,829/month
687 Sq Ft
Sand Ridge
$1,475/month
815 Sq Ft
Fountain Heights
$1,744/month
680 Sq Ft
Glen Iris
$1,006/month
758 Sq Ft
This information is based on data collected by CoStar Group researchers.†

What salary do I need to live comfortably in Birmingham, AL?

Because the average rent in Birmingham is $1,182, you’ll want to make about $3,940 per month or $47,280 per year. The general guideline is to pay no more than 30 percent of your monthly income on rent. However, you’ll want to consider additional factors, such as your monthly bills and other expenses. Use our rent affordability calculator to help determine how much to budget for rent.

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Birmingham, AL is 9.7% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Birmingham is 23.9% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $990 - $1,603. You can expect to pay 0.2% more for groceries, 4.2% more for utilities, and 10.6% less for transportation.

City

Birmingham, AL

4,481 Available Apartments for Rent

Search for Nearby Apartments

How does Birmingham, AL compare to other nearby cities and neighborhoods?

Use the tool below to compare Birmingham, AL to other nearby cities and neighborhoods. The Apartments.com neighborhood guides provide you with insight into the area’s transportation, things to do, and more.

Explore the Area Guide for Birmingham, AL

Apartment Averages

Echo Highlands

Birmingham, AL

Highland Park

Birmingham, AL

Studio
-
$797/month
One Bedroom
$770/month
$974/month
Two Bedroom
$936/month
$1,208/month
Three Bedroom
$1,159/month
$2,286/month
Search
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Nearby City Rent Trends

  • Homewood Average Rent
  • Mountain Brook Average Rent

Apartment communities in Birmingham we think you'll love

The Whitby Birmingham

The Whitby Birmingham

120 Whitby Ln,
Birmingham, AL 35242

$1,499 - $3,600

1-3 Beds

Livano Liberty Park

Livano Liberty Park

3345 Endeavor Ln,
Vestavia Hills, AL 35242

$1,694 - $3,437

1-3 Beds

Rise Red Mountain

Rise Red Mountain

1010 Beacon Pky E,
Homewood, AL 35209

$1,730 - $2,505

1-2 Beds

Lakeview Green

Lakeview Green

2901 4th Ave S,
Birmingham, AL 35233

$1,204 - $2,575 Total Monthly Price

Studio - 3 Beds

Property Management Companies in Birmingham, AL

H2 Real Estate
H2 Real Estate
  • 20

    Communities

  • 665

    Units

  • 1

    City

20 Communities in Birmingham
Arlington Properties
Arlington Properties
  • 120

    Communities

  • 29,040

    Units

  • 72

    Cities

17 Communities in Birmingham
MAA
MAA
  • 291

    Communities

  • 101,460

    Units

  • 116

    Cities

5 Communities in Birmingham
SPM Property Management
SPM Property Management
  • 43

    Communities

  • 6,844

    Units

  • 28

    Cities

5 Communities in Birmingham
Engel Realty Company
Engel Realty Company
  • 19

    Communities

  • 2,433

    Units

  • 8

    Cities

5 Communities in Birmingham
Gallery Residential
Gallery Residential
  • 92

    Communities

  • 23,668

    Units

  • 63

    Cities

4 Communities in Birmingham
Crowne Partners, Inc.
Crowne Partners, Inc.
  • 19

    Communities

  • 4,849

    Units

  • 13

    Cities

4 Communities in Birmingham
Hawthorne Residential Partners
Hawthorne Residential Partners
  • 238

    Communities

  • 58,369

    Units

  • 110

    Cities

3 Communities in Birmingham

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United States Alabama Birmingham Rental Trends

Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.

Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.

* Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.

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Equal Housing Opportunity

© 2026 CoStar Group, Inc.

Equal Housing Opportunity