Monroe County, AL at a glance
Median household income
$42,292$3,524 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Monroe County, 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 Monroe County, AL? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Monroe County, AL, 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 | $576 | $6,912 | $23,040 | 16.3% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $619 | $7,428 | $24,760 | 17.6% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $776 | $9,312 | $31,040 | 22% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,079 | $12,948 | $43,160 | 30.6% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,254 | $15,048 | $50,160 | 35.6% |
What a typical income covers in Monroe County, AL
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $42,292 a year ($3,524 a month before tax).
What $42,292 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 Monroe County, AL: common questions
What is the median household income in Monroe County, AL?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Monroe County, AL is $42,292 per year (approximately $3,524 per month).
What is the average rent in Monroe County, AL?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $576 for a studio, $619 for one bedroom, $776 for two, $1,079 for three and $1,254 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 Monroe County, AL expensive to live in?
Prices there run 11.2% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for Alabama is 88.8, 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 Monroe County, AL?
To keep a $776 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $31,040 a year, or $2,587 a month. That is 73% of what the typical household in Monroe County, AL earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Monroe County, AL?
On the local median income of $42,292 ($3,524 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $1,762 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,057 for everything else and $705 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $776 takes 44% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Monroe County, 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.