States › Alabama › Gardendale

Is Gardendale, AL expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 21 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,56111% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$88,644about $7,387/month · 2% higher than U.S. average
🔑 House price$252,60024% lower than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 54% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards. Most homes (78.2%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $62,440 a year. That is $30 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 95 of 120 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Gardendale
$1,561
Hueytown
$1,372
Saraland
$1,115
Gulf Shores
$1,901
Chelsea
$1,488
Muscle Shoals
$1,595
Selma
$567

How much do households earn in Gardendale?

Under $25k
9.1%
$25k–50k
22.4%
$50k–100k
38.2%
$100k–150k
17.8%
$150k+
10.6%

Share of households by yearly income. 28.5% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Gardendale

SizeGardendaleU.S. average
2 bedrooms$1,376$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,268$1,698

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

How expensive is Gardendale 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 Gardendale, so the Alabama figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Gardendale

🏛️ Property tax$1,277a year · 0.51% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$212a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Gardendale

Commute to work26.2 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree31.2%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home78.2%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line4.3%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment3.4%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Gardendale?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $192 a month less.

Renting
$1,561
Owning
$1,753

Owning assumes a typical $252,600 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $25,260 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Gardendale, AL?

Renting in Gardendale costs a median of about $1,561 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Alabama median is $1,175.

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

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $62,440 a year, or $30 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Gardendale cheap or expensive?

Gardendale is rated OK: rent takes 21.1% of the typical household income of $88,644. It ranks 95th cheapest of 120 Alabama cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Gardendale?

The median homeowner in Gardendale pays $1,277 a year in property taxes, about 0.51% of the median home value.

Is Gardendale 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 Gardendale?

The median home value in Gardendale is $252,600, about 2.8 times the typical yearly household income.

16,534 people live in Gardendale. Numbers are typical (middle) values.