Muscle Shoals, AL at a glance
Median household income
$75,894$6,325 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Muscle Shoals, 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 Muscle Shoals, AL? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Florence-Muscle Shoals, 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 | $698 | $8,376 | $27,920 | 11% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $775 | $9,300 | $31,000 | 12.3% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,000 | $12,000 | $40,000 | 15.8% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,242 | $14,904 | $49,680 | 19.6% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,409 | $16,908 | $56,360 | 22.3% |
What a typical income covers in Muscle Shoals, AL
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $75,894 a year ($6,325 a month before tax).
What $75,894 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 Muscle Shoals, AL: common questions
What is the median household income in Muscle Shoals, AL?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Muscle Shoals, AL is $75,894 per year (approximately $6,325 per month).
What is the average rent in Muscle Shoals, AL?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $698 for a studio, $775 for one bedroom, $1,000 for two, $1,242 for three and $1,409 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 Muscle Shoals, AL expensive to live in?
Prices there run 15.2% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 84.8, 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 Muscle Shoals, AL?
To keep a $1,000 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $40,000 a year, or $3,333 a month. That is 53% of what the typical household in Muscle Shoals, AL earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Muscle Shoals, AL?
On the local median income of $75,894 ($6,325 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,162 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,897 for everything else and $1,265 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,000 takes 32% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Muscle Shoals, 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.