Alabama rent guide
The Cheapest Cities to Rent in Alabama (June 2026)
Data as of Jun 9, 2026 · 332 rentals across 40 Alabama cities
Alabama is one of the most affordable states we track. The deep value is in Montgomery, Mobile and the smaller cities, while the premium sits in fast-growing Huntsville (aerospace and defense), the college town of Auburn, and the Gulf Coast resort towns. Birmingham, the largest metro, lands in the value range. We track every apartment we can find and rank the cities below by their typical rent, straight from live listings.
The lowest typical rent right now is in Northport (about $970/mo), while Foley sits at the top ($1,346/mo). For most renters the choice is Huntsville / the coast vs the value metros; the bedroom count you need matters from there.
Alabama cities by typical rent, cheapest first
| # | City | Typical | From | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northport | $970 | $882 | 5 |
| 2 | Mobile | $980 | $800 | 35 |
| 3 | Tuscaloosa | $1,000 | $825 | 25 |
| 4 | Hoover | $1,055 | $865 | 14 |
| 5 | Huntsville | $1,064 | $805 | 48 |
| 6 | Madison | $1,115 | $852 | 30 |
| 7 | Auburn | $1,120 | $940 | 10 |
| 8 | Prattville | $1,129 | $1,044 | 9 |
| 9 | Vestavia Hills | $1,135 | $899 | 6 |
| 10 | Daphne | $1,140 | $1,000 | 8 |
| 11 | Phenix City | $1,145 | $1,093 | 5 |
| 12 | Montgomery | $1,156 | $806 | 19 |
| 13 | Birmingham | $1,225 | $850 | 57 |
| 14 | Foley | $1,346 | $1,150 | 6 |
How we rank them
“Typical” is the median rent across everything we track in a city, so half the listings are cheaper and half pricier. “From” is the single cheapest unit listed right now. We include cities with at least five live listings and exclude single rooms and senior housing. Small-city medians can swing on a handful of listings, so the bigger markets like Birmingham, Huntsville, Montgomery and Mobile are the most stable. Refreshes when our data does (last updated Jun 9, 2026).
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest city to rent in Alabama?
By typical (median) rent it's Northport, around $970/mo, then Mobile and Tuscaloosa. Alabama is one of the most affordable states we track; the best value is in Montgomery, Mobile and the smaller cities, while Huntsville, Auburn and the Gulf Coast run higher. The ranking rebuilds from live listings, so it moves with the market.
Why is Huntsville more expensive than the rest of Alabama?
Huntsville (about $1,064/mo) is the state's aerospace and defense hub (Redstone Arsenal), and its fast job and population growth has pushed rents above the rest of Alabama. Birmingham, the largest metro, runs about $1,225 and is more of a value play. Montgomery and Mobile are cheaper still.
Where is rent most expensive in Alabama?
Foley tops the list at about $1,346/mo. The priciest rents are in Huntsville, the college town of Auburn, and the Gulf Coast resort towns (Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Fairhope). Montgomery, Mobile and the smaller cities are far cheaper.
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