Tuscaloosa County, AL at a glance
Median household income
$66,231$5,519 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Tuscaloosa 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 Tuscaloosa County, AL? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Tuscaloosa, AL HUD Metro FMR Area, 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 | $966 | $11,592 | $38,640 | 17.5% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $972 | $11,664 | $38,880 | 17.6% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,169 | $14,028 | $46,760 | 21.2% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,490 | $17,880 | $59,600 | 27% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,548 | $18,576 | $61,920 | 28% |
Rent in Tuscaloosa County, AL, with the wage each unit needs →
What a typical income covers in Tuscaloosa County, AL
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $66,231 a year ($5,519 a month before tax).
What $66,231 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 Tuscaloosa County, AL: common questions
What is the median household income in Tuscaloosa County, AL?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Tuscaloosa County, AL is $66,231 per year (approximately $5,519 per month).
What is the average rent in Tuscaloosa County, AL?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $966 for a studio, $972 for one bedroom, $1,169 for two, $1,490 for three and $1,548 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 Tuscaloosa County, AL expensive to live in?
Prices there run 12.3% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 87.7, 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 Tuscaloosa County, AL?
To keep a $1,169 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $46,760 a year, or $3,897 a month. That is 71% of what the typical household in Tuscaloosa County, AL earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Tuscaloosa County, AL?
On the local median income of $66,231 ($5,519 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,760 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,656 for everything else and $1,104 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,169 takes 42% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Tuscaloosa 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.