County FMR · HUD FY2026

Carson City Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Carson City, NV - 26% above the US average.

$1,212
1-bedroom FMR
$1,546
2-bedroom FMR
+5.6%
YoY change
+26%
vs US avg

The verdict

Carson City is the 5th most expensive of 17 counties in Nevada by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 5.6% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.

#5
most expensive of 17 in Nevada (2BR)
+7%
vs the state average
$48,480
income to afford it (30% rule)
+5.6%
YoY, FY2025→2026

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (11.3%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (49.8%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Carson City, NV. Verify with HUD →

Carson City, Nevada carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,212 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,546/mo and a studio is $1,105/mo. That's 26% above the national benchmark of $959 and 7% above the Nevada average of $1,135.

Rent increased5.6% from FY 2025 ($1,148), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $48,480/year based on the 30% affordability rule.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Nevada. Population: 58,249. Population grew 7.2% over the past five years (Census ACS) - among the faster-growing counties nationally, a trend that typically adds upward pressure on rents. That's in line with Nevada's statewide growth of +7.5% over the same period.

What these rents mean for Carson City

The Carson City FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Nevada's housing authorities use it as the baseline for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. See how FMR is calculated for the full 40th-percentile methodology and payment-standard rules.

Compared to the rest of the country, a 1-bedroom here is 26% above the US average of $959 and 7% higher than the Nevada state average of $1,135. The 1-bedroom FMR went from$1,148 in FY 2025 to $1,212 in FY 2026 - a change of +5.6%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.

At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,212, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $48,480 per year (about $4,040/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,546 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 58,249 and a county median household income of $71,809, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,056 · US avg: $893
$1,105/mo
↑ 8.2% YoY +5% vs state +24% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,135 · US avg: $959
$1,212/mo
↑ 5.6% YoY +7% vs state +26% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,428 · US avg: $1,175
$1,546/mo
↑ 5.4% YoY +8% vs state +32% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,941 · US avg: $1,525
$2,150/mo
↑ 4.6% YoY +11% vs state +41% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,352 · US avg: $1,756
$2,593/mo
↑ 5.3% YoY +10% vs state +48% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $1,021
$1,105
+$84 (+8.2%)
1 Bedroom $1,148
$1,212
+$64 (+5.6%)
2 Bedroom $1,467
$1,546
+$79 (+5.4%)
3 Bedroom $2,056
$2,150
+$94 (+4.6%)
4 Bedroom $2,463
$2,593
+$130 (+5.3%)

Affordability Snapshot

Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:

Required annual income for 1 BR
$48,480
$4,040/month gross
Required annual income for 2 BR
$61,840
$5,153/month gross

Rent Burden Analysis

How much of household income goes to rent in Carson City. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.

Studio
18.5%
Affordable
Need $44,200/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
20.3%
Affordable
Need $48,480/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
25.8%
Affordable
Need $61,840/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
35.9%
Burdened
Need $86,000/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
43.3%
Burdened
Need $103,720/yr for 30% rule
How we calculate this

Rent burden = (FMR × 12) ÷ county median household income. Required income = (FMR × 12) ÷ 0.3, the federal 30%-of-gross-income rule HUD uses to define cost burden. Median household income is from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey; FMR is from HUD's FY2026 release. See methodology.

Carson City 2-bedroom rent burden

0%100%National avg22%25.8%
Carson City 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $71,809 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Nevada rent burden →

Where Carson City sits among every US county

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties

$1,546 Top 14% higher than 86% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). Below this entry. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). Below this entry. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Below this entry. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). This entry sits in this band. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). Above this entry. $1,800–$2,000: 108 counties (3%). Above this entry. $2,000–$2,200: 29 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,200–$2,400: 40 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,400–$2,600: 13 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,600–$2,800: 9 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,800–$3,000: 15 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,000–$3,200: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,200–$3,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,400–$3,600: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,600–$3,800: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,800–$4,000: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,000–$4,200: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,200–$4,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. This county $600 $4,400 every US county, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $0.2K-wide band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents · FY2026

How Carson City compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Nevada counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Carson City is highlighted. Nearby Nevada counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Washoe County ($1,489), Clark County ($1,478), Douglas County ($1,291), Carson City (this county) ($1,212), Elko County ($1,166), Lyon County ($1,076), Nye County ($1,000).

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) As of FY2026

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $1,212/mo compares to Nevada salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation NV Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $129,030 11.3% Affordable
Registered Nurses $101,990 14.3% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $94,990 15.3% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $78,670 18.5% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $78,220 18.6% Affordable
Electricians $64,950 22.4% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $62,420 23.3% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $62,090 23.4% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $60,900 23.9% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $46,670 31.2% Stretched
Customer Service Representatives $38,950 37.3% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $36,480 39.9% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $33,430 43.5% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $30,450 47.8% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $29,180 49.8% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Nevada) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

7-year Fair Market Rent history for Carson City. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Carson City (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 65.3% overall, from $733 to $1,212. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +14.9% in FY 2023, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$600$800$1,000$1,200$1,400 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,212
Carson City 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑5.6% $1,105 $1,212 $1,546
FY 2025 ↑7.7% $1,021 $1,148 $1,467
FY 2024 ↑8.8% $921 $1,066 $1,359
FY 2023 ↑14.9% $851 $980 $1,273
FY 2022 ↑8.2% $736 $853 $1,108
FY 2021 ↑7.5% $675 $788 $1,023
FY 2020 $618 $733 $943
Total change (6yr): +65.3%
Annualized: +8.7%/yr
1 BR: $733 → $1,212

Part of the Carson City, NV Metro Area

Carson City is a central county of the Carson City, NV metropolitan statistical area.

Nearby Counties in Nevada

Largest counties by population in Nevada

Clark County
1 BR: $1,478/mo Pop: 2,265,926
Washoe County
1 BR: $1,489/mo Pop: 486,674
Lyon County
1 BR: $1,076/mo Pop: 59,435
Elko County
1 BR: $1,166/mo Pop: 53,600
Nye County
1 BR: $1,000/mo Pop: 51,698
Douglas County
1 BR: $1,291/mo Pop: 49,476
Churchill County
1 BR: $1,083/mo Pop: 25,409
Humboldt County
1 BR: $1,000/mo Pop: 17,266
View all counties in Nevada →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Carson City? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Carson City is $1,212 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,546 and a studio is $1,105.
How does Carson City rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Carson City is 26% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,212 compared to $959 nationally.
What income do I need to afford rent in Carson City? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $48,480 ($4,040/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Carson City.
Is rent going up or down in Carson City? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Carson City increased by 5.6% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,148 to $1,212.
Which jobs can afford rent in Carson City? ▼
Based on Nevada BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, Registered Nurses, General and Operations Managers can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,212/mo. 9 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Carson City over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Carson City went from $733 in FY 2020 to $1,212 in FY 2026, a total change of +65.3% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Carson City? ▼
In Carson City, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,212/mo for a 1-bedroom sets the baseline that local housing authorities use for Section 8 payment standards.
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Carson City? ▼
For Carson City, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,212/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

What this means for renters

Treat Carson City's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a market quote.

  • Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,212 implies about $48,480/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
  • Compare this county against nearby metros and states before signing a lease. Compare areas
  • See where it sits on the national rent map. View rankings

Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents in Carson City can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This page is informational and not financial or relocation advice.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD Fair Market Rents. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

All federal data sources used on this page
  • HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) - county-level fair-market rent estimates by bedroom count. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
  • HUD Income Limits - area median income for affordability calculations. huduser.gov/datasets/il
  • HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) - rent burden and housing-cost distribution. huduser.gov/datasets/cp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - county and metro housing characteristics + median rent. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • BLS Consumer Price Index, Rent of Primary Residence - rent inflation by metro. bls.gov/cpi
  • IRS Migration Data (SOI) - interstate migration aggregates affecting county demand. irs.gov/statistics/migration
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics - state-level median wages by occupation, used for job affordability analysis. bls.gov/oes

Every figure on PlainRent is rendered directly from HUD's published Fair Market Rent records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of FY 2026.