TJ Tower — Thomas Jefferson Tower in Birmingham. (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

As one of the Best Cities to Raise a Family in the U.S., it’s no surprise that people want to live in Birmingham. However, the demand for housing in The Magic City has caused rental rates to rise slightly over 2021. Keep reading to learn more about the rental situation in Birmingham.

Average Birmingham Rental Rates

Rotary Trail — (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

According to RentCafe, the average rent for an apartment in The Magic City is $1,280. Of course, the cost of an apartment varies depending on size, location, amenities, etc. Meanwhile, the average size for an apartment in Birmingham is 971 square feet.

What does this mean for renters? According to data collected by Point2Homes, the average rent in Birmingham is up 4.4%—compared to $1,226 in February of 2022.

For comparison, here’s the average monthly rent for apartments in other cities in Alabama:

Auburn: $1,445
Madison: $1,323
Birmingham: $1,280
Tuscaloosa: $1,230
Huntsville: $1,151
Montgomery: $1,086
Mobile: $1,081
Phenix City: $1,036
Athens: $877
Decatur: $796

Bham Now’s sister publication, Hville Blast, recently published an article on rental rates in Huntsville. Click here to read all about it.

Most Expensive & Most Affordable Neighborhoods in Birmingham

Railroad Park — (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

In addition, RentCafe lists the most affordable, most expensive and most popular neighborhoods in the Birmingham area.

Most Affordable
- Acipco-Finley: $482/month
- College Hills: $482/month
- East Thomas: $482/month
- Enon Ridge: $482/month
- Graymont: $482/month
- Evergreen: $524/month
Most Expensive
- Mountain Brook: $1,703/month
- Southside: $1,714
Most Popular
- Five Points South: $1,289/month
- Highland Park: $1,255/month
- Downtown: $1,295/month