County FMR · HUD FY2026
Columbia County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Columbia County, FL - 8% above the US average.
- $1,034
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,318
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +26.1%
- YoY change
- +8%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Columbia is the 24th cheapest of 67 counties in Florida by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 26.1% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.
- #24
- cheapest of 67 in Florida (2BR)
- -20%
- vs the state average
- $41,360
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +26.1%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (9.8%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (44.3%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Columbia County, FL. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Columbia County, Florida is $1,034 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,318/mo and a studio is $990/mo. This is 8% higher than the national average of $959 and 20% below the Florida average of $1,296.
Rent increased26.1% from FY 2025 ($820), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $41,360/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Florida. Population: 69,832. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+2.4%, Census ACS). That's slower than Florida's statewide growth of +6.5% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Columbia County
The Columbia County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Florida'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 8% above the US average of $959 and 20% lower than the Florida state average of $1,296. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$820 in FY 2025 to $1,034 in FY 2026 - a change of +26.1%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,034, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $41,360 per year (about $3,447/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,318 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 69,832 and a county median household income of $55,070, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $815 | $990 | +$175 (+21.5%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $820 | $1,034 | +$214 (+26.1%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,076 | $1,318 | +$242 (+22.5%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,305 | $1,580 | +$275 (+21.1%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,427 | $1,745 | +$318 (+22.3%) |
Affordability Snapshot
Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Columbia County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.
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.
Columbia County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Columbia sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,318 Top 23% higher than 77% of 3,145 counties
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 Columbia compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Florida counties
- Miami-Dade
Miami-Dade County
$1,995 1BR FMR / mo
- Palm Beach
Palm Beach County
$1,901 1BR FMR / mo
- Broward
Broward County
$1,900 1BR FMR / mo
- Orange
Orange County
$1,731 1BR FMR / mo
- Hillsborough
Hillsborough County
$1,696 1BR FMR / mo
- Duval
Duval County
$1,382 1BR FMR / mo
- Columbia
Columbia County
$1,034 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Columbia is highlighted. Nearby Florida counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Miami-Dade County ($1,995), Palm Beach County ($1,901), Broward County ($1,900), Orange County ($1,731), Hillsborough County ($1,696), Duval County ($1,382), Columbia County (this county) ($1,034).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $1,034/mo compares to Florida salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | FL Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $126,550 | 9.8% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $100,750 | 12.3% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $82,850 | 15% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $78,470 | 15.8% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $76,190 | 16.3% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $60,280 | 20.6% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $55,550 | 22.3% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $53,100 | 23.4% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $50,000 | 24.8% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $39,640 | 31.3% | Stretched |
| Customer Service Representatives | $38,890 | 31.9% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $31,950 | 38.8% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $31,540 | 39.3% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $30,230 | 41% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $27,990 | 44.3% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Columbia County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Columbia (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 52.7% overall, from $677 to $1,034. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 26.1% (FY 2026), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑26.1% | $990 | $1,034 | $1,318 |
| FY 2025 ↑3.4% | $815 | $820 | $1,076 |
| FY 2024 ↑13.3% | $788 | $793 | $1,042 |
| FY 2023 ↑5.6% | $643 | $700 | $921 |
| FY 2022 ↑0.6% | $614 | $663 | $873 |
| FY 2021 ↓2.7% | $634 | $659 | $869 |
| FY 2020 | $651 | $677 | $879 |
Part of the Lake City, FL Micro Area
Columbia County is a central county of the Lake City, FL micropolitan statistical area.
Nearby Counties in Florida
Largest counties by population in Florida
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Columbia County? ▼
How does Columbia County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Columbia County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Columbia County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Columbia County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Columbia County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Columbia County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Columbia County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Columbia'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 $1,034 implies about $41,360/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 Columbia 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.
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.