How Much Does Off-Campus Housing Cost Near the University of Alabama? Tuscaloosa Rents by Area

University of Alabama off campus housing cost runs about $750 to $900 a month per bed for most students in 2026, based on the starting floor-plan prices of 25 Tuscaloosa buildings listed on Find My Place. The cheapest beds sit 1.6 to 2.2 miles out (Redpoint Tuscaloosa lists from $499), while buildings a half mile from campus start between $750 and $1,332. UA's own 2026-27 off-campus budget sets aside $11,242 for housing, which works out to about $937 a month across a 12-month lease.

Key Takeaways

• Six of the ten Tuscaloosa buildings with clear per-bed pricing start at $850 a month or less.
• Walk-to-class buildings near The Strip start at $750 (a shared room at Union on Frank) and climb to $1,332 per person at Union Tuscaloosa.
• $499 is the floor. That's a bed in a 4-bedroom at Redpoint Tuscaloosa on Hargrove Road East, 2.2 miles from campus.
• UA budgets $11,242 for off-campus housing in 2026-27, versus $10,000 for a dorm.
• Read the floor plans before you trust a headline price (a 4-bedroom that lists cheaper than a 2-bedroom is quoting rent per bed).
• Utilities and fees are extra at most buildings, so add roughly $30 to $100 a month.

University of Alabama Off Campus Housing Cost by Area

Distance from campus is the biggest price lever in Tuscaloosa, but it doesn't move in a straight line. Every number below is a starting floor-plan price from the property's Find My Place page as of late October 2026. You can sort all of them on the off-campus housing near the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa page.

The Strip and the blocks around Bryant-Denny (0.5 to 0.8 miles): $750 to $1,332 per bed

Closest to class, highest ceiling. Union on Frank at 530 Frank Thomas Avenue lists shared rooms from $750 and a private bedroom in a 4-bedroom at $999. Hub on Campus Tuscaloosa at 521 Red Drew Avenue starts at $899 for a 4-bedroom bed, while its 2x2s start at $1,475.

State Tuscaloosa at 513 13th Street lists 4-bedroom beds at $825. Union Tuscaloosa on Paul W Bryant Drive is the expensive end, at $1,332 per person and up. So yes, you can walk to class for under $900. You'll just be splitting a 4-bedroom or sharing a room to do it.

University Boulevard toward downtown (0.9 to 1.4 miles): $850 to $925

This is the best value-per-mile stretch in town. Broadstreet Village at 1914 University Boulevard lists beds in its 3-bedrooms at $850, and its one-bedrooms at $1,080. Riverfront Village on Jack Warner Parkway starts at $870 for a 3-bedroom bed. Metalworks Condos on 21st Avenue lists a 3-bedroom condo from $925, but the listing doesn't say whether that's per bed or the whole unit, so ask.

15th Street and University Downs (1.0 to 1.1 miles): $889 per bed, $1,409 for a studio

Vie at University Downs on 15th Street East starts beds in its 3-bedrooms at $889, with one-bedrooms from $1,429. East Edge on Jackson Avenue is studios only, listed at $1,409 to $1,485. If you want to live alone, this is roughly what it costs near campus.

Jack Warner Parkway and northeast Tuscaloosa (1.3 to 2.8 miles): $675 to $800 to start

Further out, prices drop, and a couple of the best-rated buildings in town live here. Hillside Commons on Jack Warner Parkway N.E. lists from $675 and holds a 5.0 rating across five verified reviews, though most of its named floor plans run $1,030 to $1,300. The Preserve at Tuscaloosa on Helen Keller Boulevard starts 2-bedroom beds at $795. The Cottages at Lake Tamaha, 2.8 miles out, starts at $770 for a 4-bedroom bed.

Hargrove Road and 10th Avenue East (1.6 to 2.2 miles): $495 to $625

The cheapest listed rents in Tuscaloosa are here. Redpoint Tuscaloosa at 1100 Hargrove Road East lists a 4-bedroom bed at $499 and a 3-bedroom bed at $599. Lofts at City Center lists a 2-bedroom at $495. Redpoint carries a 2.7 rating, so read the reviews before the price talks you into it.

Per-Bed vs. Whole-Unit: How to Read a Tuscaloosa Rent Listing

Most Tuscaloosa student complexes quote rent per bed, even when the floor plan says "whole unit." The tell is the price curve. At Redpoint, the 4-bedroom lists at $499, the 3-bedroom at $599 and the 2-bedroom at $799. Rent goes up as the apartment gets smaller, which only makes sense if you're paying for one bedroom.

Hub on Campus, Riverfront Village, Vie at University Downs and The Cottages at Lake Tamaha all follow the same pattern. When a building lists just one floor plan (Houndstooth Condominiums at $775, Metalworks at $925), you can't tell from the listing. Call and ask, "Is that per person or for the apartment?" It's a $1,500 question.

Is Off-Campus Housing Cheaper Than Living on Campus at Alabama?

Not by UA's math. The university's 2026-27 cost of attendance budgets $10,000 for on-campus housing and $11,242 for off-campus housing, and it adds more for transportation off campus ($3,164 versus $2,352 for an in-state student). Food stays the same at $5,478 either way.

Here's the catch the averages hide. Tuscaloosa student leases almost always run 12 months, August to July, so you're paying through a summer you may spend at home. An $850 bed costs $10,200 a year before utilities. Pick a $750 shared room and you're at $9,000. Go to Union Tuscaloosa and you're just shy of $16,000.

Freshmen don't get to choose anyway. UA requires full-time first-year students to live on campus unless they qualify for an exemption, so this math matters starting sophomore year.

Hidden Costs on Top of University of Alabama Off Campus Housing Rent

Budget $30 to $100 a month per person for utilities if they aren't bundled. Alabama summers are long, and a 12-month lease means paying for August air conditioning. Some newer complexes bundle internet, and sometimes water or electric, into rent. Older houses and condos usually bill you separately.

Fees are the other surprise. Every Tuscaloosa listing on Find My Place carries a "fees may apply" note, and some properties haven't posted their monthly fees at all, so the base rent can understate what you'll pay. Ask for the total monthly cost in writing: rent, amenity or admin fees, utilities, parking and any application fee.

Parking deserves its own line. On home-game Saturdays, buildings near Bryant-Denny get squeezed, and our guide to game-day parking at Tuscaloosa student apartments covers what to ask before you sign.

How to Spend Less on Off-Campus Housing Near UA

Sign early. Tuscaloosa's big by-the-bed buildings open preleasing in the fall, and the cheapest floor plans go first. Then pick your tradeoff on purpose: distance, roommates or a shared bedroom. Each one knocks real money off the bill.

Living 2 miles out on Hargrove Road instead of on Frank Thomas Avenue can save you $250 a month or more. That's $3,000 a year. Just check the reviews, because the cheapest buildings tend to have the most complaints. Our breakdown of Tuscaloosa neighborhoods for UA students pairs each area with its ratings, and the Tuscaloosa apartment reviews show what residents say about maintenance.

Frequently Asked Questions About University of Alabama Off Campus Housing Cost

What is the average rent for off-campus housing near the University of Alabama?

About $750 to $900 per bed for most buildings. Six of the ten Tuscaloosa properties with clear per-bed pricing on Find My Place start at $850 or less, and the full range runs from $499 at Redpoint Tuscaloosa to $1,332 per person at Union Tuscaloosa.

What is the cheapest off-campus housing near UA?

Redpoint Tuscaloosa on Hargrove Road East, with 4-bedroom beds listed at $499. Lofts at City Center lists a 2-bedroom at $495, but confirm whether that's per person. Both are 1.6 to 2.2 miles from campus.

How much should I budget per month to live off campus at Alabama?

Roughly $900 to $1,000 all in. That's an $850 bed plus $30 to $100 in utilities, before any building fees. UA's own off-campus housing estimate for 2026-27 is $11,242, or about $937 a month over a 12-month lease.

Can I live within walking distance of campus for under $900?

Yes. Union on Frank lists shared rooms from $750, State Tuscaloosa lists 4-bedroom beds at $825 and Hub on Campus Tuscaloosa starts at $899. All three sit 0.5 to 0.7 miles from campus.

Do Tuscaloosa student apartments charge rent over the summer?

Almost always. Most leases run 12 months from August to July, so you pay June and July rent whether you stay in town or not. Subletting is the usual way out, if your lease allows it.