Gulf Shores, AL at a glance
Median household income
$78,188$6,516 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Gulf Shores, AL?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Gulf Shores, AL? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,094 | $13,128 | $43,760 | 16.8% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,200 | $14,400 | $48,000 | 18.4% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,345 | $16,140 | $53,800 | 20.6% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,692 | $20,304 | $67,680 | 26% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $2,171 | $26,052 | $86,840 | 33.3% |
What a typical income covers in Gulf Shores, AL
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $78,188 a year ($6,516 a month before tax).
What $78,188 leaves after Alabama taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Alabama tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Alabama
Living in Gulf Shores, AL: common questions
What is the median household income in Gulf Shores, AL?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Gulf Shores, AL is $78,188 per year (approximately $6,516 per month).
What is the average rent in Gulf Shores, AL?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,094 for a studio, $1,200 for one bedroom, $1,345 for two, $1,692 for three and $2,171 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Gulf Shores, AL expensive to live in?
Prices there run 5.3% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 94.7, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Gulf Shores, AL?
To keep a $1,345 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $53,800 a year, or $4,483 a month. That is 69% of what the typical household in Gulf Shores, AL earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Gulf Shores, AL?
On the local median income of $78,188 ($6,516 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,258 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,955 for everything else and $1,303 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,345 takes 41% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Gulf Shores, AL?
Homes in Alabama paid 16.4¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $148. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.