Rent by ZIP code in Birmingham
| ZIP code | County | Typical rent | vs city median |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35242 | Shelby County | $1,656 | +23% |
| 35233 | Jefferson County | $1,605 | +19% |
| 35235 | Jefferson County | $1,414 | +5% |
| 35203 | Jefferson County | $1,384 | +3% |
| 35222 | Jefferson County | $1,354 | +1% |
| 35211 | Jefferson County | $1,340 | -1% |
| 35208 | Jefferson County | $1,128 | -16% |
| 35206 | Jefferson County | $1,108 | -18% |
| 35205 | Jefferson County | $1,067 | -21% |
| 35218 | Jefferson County | $1,067 | -21% |
Rent by bedroom count in Birmingham
Zillow's index above blends every unit size into one number. For a bedroom level view, these are HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rents for Jefferson County. They include utilities and sit near the 40th percentile of the market, so treat them as the low side of what a typical unit lists for. Jefferson County uses Small Area FMRs, and the two bedroom figure runs from $1,110 to $1,870 depending on the Birmingham ZIP code.
| Unit size | FY2027 Fair Market Rent | Change from FY2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,177 | +14.9% |
| 1 bedroom | $1,263 | +9.4% |
| 2 bedroom | $1,375 | +8.6% |
| 3 bedroom | $1,727 | +9.1% |
| 4 bedroom | $1,941 | +7.8% |
Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Updates when HUD publishes a new fiscal year.
Is rent going up or down in Birmingham?
Typical rent across Jefferson County is $1,339 as of September 2026. That is up 3.4% from a year earlier and up 17.7% over five years.
| Year | Typical rent, Jefferson County | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $1,165 | +10.4% |
| 2022 | $1,223 | +4.9% |
| 2023 | $1,279 | +4.6% |
| 2024 | $1,329 | +3.9% |
| 2025 | $1,299 | -2.2% |
| 2026 (through September) | $1,339 | +3.0% |
Zillow Observed Rent Index for the county, all home types, last published month of each year. Each row is compared with the end of the year before it.
Birmingham rent questions
- What is the average rent in Birmingham, AL?
- Typical asking rent in Birmingham is $1,347 a month as of September 2026, across 10 ZIP codes. By ZIP code it runs from $1,067 to $1,656.
- How much is rent for a 2 bedroom in Birmingham?
- HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two bedroom in Jefferson County is $1,375 a month including utilities. A one bedroom is $1,263 and a three bedroom is $1,727. Fair Market Rent is set near the 40th percentile, so a typical unit lists somewhat higher.
- Is rent going up or down in Birmingham?
- Rent is rising. Typical rent in Jefferson County is $1,339 as of September 2026, up 3.4% from a year earlier.
- What is the cheapest ZIP code to rent in Birmingham?
- ZIP 35205 has the lowest typical asking rent in Birmingham at $1,067 a month, compared with $1,347 for the city overall.
- How much income do you need to rent in Birmingham?
- Most landlords look for gross income of about three times the rent. At the typical Birmingham rent of $1,347, that is about $4,041 a month, or $48,492 a year. This is a common screening rule of thumb, and individual landlords set their own.
How to use these numbers
These are Zillow Observed Rent Index values, a smoothed measure of typical asking rent for single family homes, condos, and apartments in each ZIP code. They describe what units are listed for, not what any specific unit will get. Condition, bedroom count, and the exact block all move the number.
If you are underwriting a purchase, use the ZIP figure rather than the city median, and then verify against live listings for the same bedroom count before you commit. Birmingham sits in the Birmingham-Hoover, AL metro area.