Alabama Cost of Living
Housing costs and affordability data for 67 counties.
Average Monthly Rent
$799/mo
Average Home Value
$149,701
Average Owner Cost
$691/mo
County cost atlas
Alabama housing costs by county
Compare rent, entry-price context, owner costs, and cost score in one state view. Pin a county, switch layers, then open the full county profile when a place needs closer review.
Counties
67
Avg rent
$799/mo
Owner cost
$691/mo
Avg score
68.5
Higher means lower cost pressure
Atlas layers use U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. Rent, owner cost, and home value are county medians. Cost score rewards lower rent and lower owner costs, but affordability still depends on income, household size, commute, debt, and personal finances. Use this as decision context, not personalized financial advice.
State Cost Summary
Use these state averages as a starting point, then scan the atlas and rankings for the county-level spread behind them.
Housing Costs in Alabama: An Overview
The median rent in Alabama is $799 per month, which is 31% below the national median of $1,163. That is useful statewide context, but rent burden still depends on local income, household size, commute, and the county a household chooses.
Within Alabama, housing costs vary significantly by county. Shelby County has the highest median rent in this dataset at $1,348 per month and a median home value of $298,700. Greene County has the lowest reported median rent at $429 per month and a median home value of $86,400.
The average home value across Alabama counties is $149,701, 47% lower than the national median of $281,900. Median household income is roughly $54,196, so home values should be read alongside local wages, financing costs, taxes, insurance, and supply.
Before comparing places in Alabama, start with the county-level pattern. Costs can swing dramatically between rural and urban counties. Use the atlas, rankings, and county links below to compare rent, home values, owner costs, and rent burden before opening a specific county profile.
Distribution
Rent Distribution in Alabama
How median rents are spread across 67 counties
Highest Median Rent Counties
Lowest Median Rent Counties
All Alabama Counties
Sorted by median rent, highest first. A higher cost score means lower rent and owner cost pressure within the national scoring model.
| County | Median Rent | Home Value | Owner Cost | Cost Score | Rent/Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby County | Moderate$1,348/mo | $298,700 | $1,321/mo | 11.8 | 29.0% |
| Baldwin County | Moderate$1,211/mo | $287,000 | $1,098/mo | 19.3 | 27.0% |
| Autauga County | Moderate$1,200/mo | $197,900 | $953/mo | 25.3 | 25.0% |
| Jefferson County | Moderate$1,132/mo | $224,900 | $1,110/mo | 20.8 | 31.0% |
| Madison County | Moderate$1,116/mo | $267,800 | $1,097/mo | 21.9 | 27.0% |
| St. Clair County | Moderate$1,077/mo | $218,500 | $1,004/mo | 26.3 | 26.0% |
| Montgomery County | Moderate$1,061/mo | $160,100 | $991/mo | 27.6 | 30.0% |
| Mobile County | Moderate$1,021/mo | $176,600 | $991/mo | 28.9 | 32.0% |
| Elmore County | Moderate$1,014/mo | $213,600 | $982/mo | 29.6 | 27.0% |
| Lee County | Affordable$999/mo | $238,700 | $1,048/mo | 28.0 | 34.0% |
| Tuscaloosa County | Affordable$997/mo | $233,700 | $1,109/mo | 25.9 | 31.0% |
| Coffee County | Affordable$970/mo | $180,300 | $871/mo | 38.1 | 25.0% |
| Limestone County | Affordable$908/mo | $255,100 | $1,052/mo | 34.0 | 24.0% |
| Houston County | Affordable$905/mo | $178,000 | $854/mo | 43.9 | 27.0% |
| Russell County | Affordable$898/mo | $152,300 | $805/mo | 48.1 | 30.0% |
| Cullman County | Affordable$883/mo | $180,500 | $723/mo | 55.1 | 24.0% |
| Dale County | Affordable$863/mo | $129,100 | $587/mo | 66.7 | 24.0% |
| Chilton County | Affordable$855/mo | $142,300 | $654/mo | 63.2 | 21.0% |
| Pike County | Affordable$855/mo | $149,000 | $744/mo | 56.5 | 33.0% |
| Chambers County | Affordable$850/mo | $129,700 | $620/mo | 65.8 | 22.0% |
| Sumter County | Affordable$841/mo | $84,100 | $540/mo | 71.9 | 41.0% |
| Colbert County | Affordable$838/mo | $161,600 | $769/mo | 56.1 | 28.0% |
| Morgan County | Affordable$835/mo | $193,000 | $822/mo | 53.3 | 27.0% |
| Etowah County | Affordable$807/mo | $160,600 | $689/mo | 65.9 | 30.0% |
| Calhoun County | Affordable$804/mo | $149,500 | $713/mo | 64.3 | 27.0% |
| Bibb County | Affordable$802/mo | $132,600 | $566/mo | 75.2 | 33.0% |
| Lauderdale County | Affordable$799/mo | $185,800 | $713/mo | 65.1 | 26.0% |
| Cleburne County | Affordable$792/mo | $144,200 | $563/mo | 76.7 | 27.0% |
| Clarke County | Affordable$785/mo | $126,400 | $589/mo | 75.8 | 32.0% |
| Conecuh County | Affordable$781/mo | $101,300 | $453/mo | 82.6 | 34.0% |
| Talladega County | Affordable$772/mo | $137,900 | $745/mo | 66.5 | 26.0% |
| Henry County | Affordable$770/mo | $147,800 | $673/mo | 72.3 | 28.0% |
| Marshall County | Affordable$765/mo | $183,400 | $792/mo | 64.1 | 27.0% |
| Jackson County | Affordable$762/mo | $145,800 | $595/mo | 78.3 | 27.0% |
| Geneva County | Affordable$757/mo | $120,200 | $557/mo | 81.6 | 27.0% |
| Cherokee County | Affordable$750/mo | $165,900 | $590/mo | 79.9 | 26.0% |
| Dallas County | Affordable$749/mo | $97,400 | $531/mo | 83.7 | 36.0% |
| Winston County | Affordable$744/mo | $110,500 | $591/mo | 80.4 | 28.0% |
| Blount County | Affordable$743/mo | $169,700 | $746/mo | 69.7 | 30.0% |
| Walker County | Affordable$743/mo | $131,100 | $593/mo | 80.5 | 26.0% |
| Covington County | Affordable$736/mo | $142,500 | $552/mo | 84.2 | 29.0% |
| Tallapoosa County | Affordable$734/mo | $144,800 | $646/mo | 78.3 | 25.0% |
| Hale County | Affordable$723/mo | $126,300 | $542/mo | 86.3 | 31.0% |
| Butler County | Affordable$722/mo | $99,700 | $579/mo | 84.0 | 28.0% |
| Marengo County | Affordable$722/mo | $103,400 | $563/mo | 85.2 | 32.0% |
| Monroe County | Affordable$721/mo | $114,900 | $552/mo | 86.0 | 28.0% |
| Escambia County | Affordable$709/mo | $122,700 | $523/mo | 88.6 | 29.0% |
| Macon County | Affordable$709/mo | $95,700 | $613/mo | 83.0 | 33.0% |
| Lawrence County | Affordable$708/mo | $150,700 | $628/mo | 82.2 | 21.0% |
| Wilcox County | Affordable$699/mo | $84,200 | $516/mo | 89.6 | 30.0% |
| DeKalb County | Affordable$683/mo | $135,500 | $579/mo | 87.5 | 26.0% |
| Coosa County | Affordable$682/mo | $111,800 | $578/mo | 87.7 | 35.0% |
| Franklin County | Affordable$667/mo | $128,000 | $570/mo | 89.0 | 22.0% |
| Crenshaw County | Affordable$664/mo | $108,400 | $494/mo | 92.9 | 23.0% |
| Lowndes County | Affordable$663/mo | $80,600 | $686/mo | 81.4 | 35.0% |
| Choctaw County | Affordable$653/mo | $111,800 | $465/mo | 94.6 | 24.0% |
| Randolph County | Affordable$646/mo | $184,000 | $570/mo | 90.2 | 28.0% |
| Barbour County | Affordable$644/mo | $109,900 | $632/mo | 86.0 | 25.0% |
| Bullock County | Affordable$635/mo | $79,400 | $563/mo | 91.0 | 42.0% |
| Washington County | Affordable$628/mo | $152,800 | $529/mo | 93.2 | 25.0% |
| Clay County | Affordable$624/mo | $144,700 | $473/mo | 95.6 | 22.0% |
| Fayette County | Affordable$622/mo | $121,200 | $512/mo | 94.1 | 26.0% |
| Perry County | Affordable$610/mo | $87,700 | $417/mo | 97.4 | 26.0% |
| Pickens County | Affordable$600/mo | $123,300 | $559/mo | 92.8 | 30.0% |
| Marion County | Affordable$583/mo | $104,300 | $529/mo | 94.8 | 27.0% |
| Lamar County | Affordable$548/mo | $112,700 | $494/mo | 96.8 | 31.0% |
| Greene County | Affordable$429/mo | $86,400 | $461/mo | 98.7 | 25.0% |
Compare Alabama to Other States
See how Alabama counties stack up against counties in other states. Compare rent, home values, and affordability side by side.
Start a ComparisonFrequently Asked Questions About Alabama Housing Costs
What is the most affordable county in Alabama?
What is the most expensive county to live in Alabama?
How does Alabama's cost of living compare to the national average?
What is the average home value in Alabama?
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Compare Moving QuotesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.