States › Alabama › Bessemer

Is Bessemer, AL expensive to live in?

ExpensiveRent takes 38 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,36922% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$42,723about $3,560/month · 51% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$135,90059% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 65% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.2 years of household income.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $54,760 a year. That is $26 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Alabama cities?

No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Alabama. It is number 81 of 120 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Bessemer
$1,369
Pelham
$1,993
Fairhope
$2,265
Trussville
$1,274
Foley
$2,011
Homewood
$1,395
Albertville
$1,165

How much do households earn in Bessemer?

Under $25k
27.2%
$25k–50k
27.9%
$50k–100k
25.1%
$100k–150k
9.0%
$150k+
1.9%

Share of households by yearly income. 10.9% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Bessemer

SizeBessemerU.S. average
1 bedroom$624$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,116$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,135$1,698
4 bedrooms$1,612$2,098

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Bessemer overall?

Everyday prices in Alabama overall are 11% below the U.S. average (index 88.8, U.S. = 100).

Housing
62
Goods (food, clothes…)
96
Utilities
85
Other services
97
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Bessemer, so the Alabama figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Bessemer

🏛️ Property tax$883a year · 0.65% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$211a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Bessemer

Commute to work26.2 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree15.6%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home57.4%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line27.9%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment8.6%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Bessemer?

Buying is cheaper month to month: about $426 a month less than renting.

Renting
$1,369
Owning
$943

Owning assumes a typical $135,900 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $13,590 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Bessemer, AL?

Renting in Bessemer costs a median of about $1,369 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Alabama median is $1,175.

How much do I need to make to live in Bessemer?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $54,760 a year, or $26 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Bessemer cheap or expensive?

Bessemer is rated Expensive: rent takes 38.5% of the typical household income of $42,723. It ranks 81st cheapest of 120 Alabama cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Bessemer?

The median homeowner in Bessemer pays $883 a year in property taxes, about 0.65% of the median home value.

Is Bessemer more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Alabama are 11% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Bessemer?

The median home value in Bessemer is $135,900, about 3.2 times the typical yearly household income.

25,400 people live in Bessemer. Numbers are typical (middle) values.