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Birmingham, AL Rent Affordability Calculator

The median rent in the Birmingham, AL area is $1,172 a month including utilities, which takes 20% of the median household income ($71,498). Paying it on 30% of income needs about $46,880 a year.

On $71,000 a year, 30% of income is $1,775 a month for rent. A $1,170 rent takes 19.8% of gross income; many landlords want income of 40 times the rent, $46,800.

Rent you can afford
$1,775 a month
That rent takes
19.8% of income
Income a landlord may ask for (40× rent)
$46,800

Rent you can afford in Birmingham, AL by income (30% rule)

IncomeAffordable rentAgainst the median rent
$40,000$1,000−14.7%
$60,000$1,50028.0%
$80,000$2,00070.6%
$100,000$2,500113.3%
$150,000$3,750220.0%

How this calculator works

Median gross rent and median household income for the Birmingham, AL metropolitan area, from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates. Affordable rent is 30% of gross monthly income.

What it assumes

  • Medians across all rentals, of every size and age; new listings usually ask more.

Questions people ask

What is the average rent in Birmingham, AL?

The median gross rent is $1,172 a month, including utilities (Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates).

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

To rent at the median on 30% of income, about $46,880 a year; many landlords ask for 40 times the rent, $46,880.

Is rent affordable in Birmingham, AL?

The median rent takes 20% of the median household income there, within the 30% guideline.

How does the cost of living in Birmingham, AL compare?

Overall prices are 8.4% below the US average, and housing 28.1% below (BEA, 2024).

Nearby and large metro areas

Related calculators

  • Rent Affordability CalculatorThe rent your income supports under the 30% guideline, what a given rent takes of your pay, and the income landlords often ask for, with median rents in large metro areas.
  • Birmingham, AL Cost of Living CalculatorPrices in the Birmingham, AL area are 8.4% below the US average, and housing 28.1% below (BEA, 2024). Compare a salary here with anywhere else.
  • Rent vs Buy CalculatorWhether buying or renting leaves you better off after the years you plan to stay, counting mortgage interest, tax, upkeep, selling costs and what a renter earns investing the down payment.

Sources

Updated by the RateHerald team. The maths is tested against worked examples; report a problem.