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Rent Tracker
The average asking rent in Birmingham, AL is $1,407/month as of 2026-03. That is +1.6% compared to a year ago.
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) · zillow.com/research
Current Avg Rent
$1,407/mo
as of 2026-03
Year-over-Year Change
+1.6%
Monthly ZORI index values for Birmingham, AL.
| Month | Avg Asking Rent | Change from Prior Month |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-03 | $1,407 | +0.50% |
| 2026-02 | $1,400 | +0.21% |
| 2026-01 | $1,397 | +0.07% |
| 2025-12 | $1,396 | -0.21% |
| 2025-11 | $1,399 | -0.36% |
| 2025-10 | $1,404 | -0.35% |
| 2025-09 | $1,409 | -0.35% |
| 2025-08 | $1,414 | +0.35% |
| 2025-07 | $1,409 | +0.21% |
| 2025-06 | $1,406 | +0.43% |
| 2025-05 | $1,400 | +0.36% |
| 2025-04 | $1,395 | +0.72% |
| 2025-03 | $1,385 | +0.58% |
| 2025-02 | $1,377 | +0.58% |
| 2025-01 | $1,369 | -0.15% |
| 2024-12 | $1,371 | -0.22% |
| 2024-11 | $1,374 | -0.07% |
| 2024-10 | $1,375 | +0.22% |
| 2024-09 | $1,372 | +0.22% |
| 2024-08 | $1,369 | +0.37% |
| 2024-07 | $1,364 | +0.52% |
| 2024-06 | $1,357 | +0.67% |
| 2024-05 | $1,348 | +0.37% |
| 2024-04 | $1,343 | — |
Shelter is the single largest component of the official CPI, accounting for roughly one-third of the index. But the BLS shelter index tends to lag real-market rent changes by 12–18 months because it measures rents paid by all tenants — including long-term renters locked into old leases. ZORI measures asking rents for new leases, making it a timelier signal of where CPI shelter inflation is headed.
When ZORI is rising sharply in your city, it is a leading indicator that official shelter inflation — and therefore overall CPI — will remain elevated in coming months.
Data: Zillow Research ZORI · Updated monthly · Price Inflation Report