salaryRent here is among the lowest 10% of all U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $22,680 a year. That is $11 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other Alabama cities?
Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Alabama. It is number 5 of 120 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Selma?
Share of households by yearly income. 8.1% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Selma
| Size | Selma | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $604 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $489 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $742 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,115 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,363 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Selma overall?
Everyday prices in Alabama overall are 11% below the U.S. average (index 88.8, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Selma, so the Alabama figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Selma
Life in Selma
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Selma?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $103 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $96,500 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $9,650 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Selma, AL?
Renting in Selma costs a median of about $567 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Alabama median is $1,175.
How much do I need to make to live in Selma?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $22,680 a year, or $11 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Selma cheap or expensive?
Selma is rated Cheap: rent takes 19.0% of the typical household income of $35,803. It ranks 5th cheapest of 120 Alabama cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Selma?
The median homeowner in Selma pays $445 a year in property taxes, about 0.46% of the median home value.
Is Selma 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 Selma?
The median home value in Selma is $96,500, about 2.7 times the typical yearly household income.
17,057 people live in Selma. Numbers are typical (middle) values.