County FMR · HUD FY2026

Gallatin County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Gallatin County, MT - 71% above the US average.

$1,642
1-bedroom FMR
$2,154
2-bedroom FMR
+18.6%
YoY change
+71%
vs US avg

The verdict

Gallatin is the 1st most expensive of 56 counties in Montana by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #94 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 18.6% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.

#94
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#1
most expensive of 56 in Montana (2BR)
+53%
vs the state average
$65,680
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (19.7%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (67.3%); only 6 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Gallatin County, MT. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Gallatin County, Montana at $1,642 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $2,154/mo and a studio is $1,485/mo. This is 71% higher than the national average of $959 and 53% above the Montana average of $1,076.

Rent increased18.6% from FY 2025 ($1,385), outpacing inflation. Clearing the 30% rule here takes $65,680/year, a high bar relative to most US counties.

Observed renter burden: 46.2% of the 19,251 renter households counted by ACS paid at least 30% of income in gross rent. This ACS 2023 household measure is distinct from HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent benchmark above.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Montana. Population: 119,685. Population grew 16.7% over the past five years (Census ACS) - among the faster-growing counties nationally, a trend that typically adds upward pressure on rents. That's faster than Montana's statewide growth of +6.1% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area GALLATIN·COUNTY·MT·MT

Gallatin County, MT: $1,642/mo 1BR · #94 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA MT
  • 1BR-FMR $1,642
  • 2BR-FMR $2,154
  • RANK-UPPER #94
  • YOY-SURGE +18.6%
  • VSUS-HIGH +71%
  • VS-ST-HIGH +53% MT
  • INC-MID 23%
  • POP-MID 120K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Yellowstone County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $1,478–$1,806
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Yellowstone ($533 1BR gap)

Read with: Understanding rent burden

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $988 · US avg: $893
$1,485/mo
↑ 20.3% YoY +50% vs state +66% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,076 · US avg: $959
$1,642/mo
↑ 18.6% YoY +53% vs state +71% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,336 · US avg: $1,175
$2,154/mo
↑ 21.1% YoY +61% vs state +83% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,789 · US avg: $1,525
$2,996/mo
↑ 20.3% YoY +67% vs state +96% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,113 · US avg: $1,756
$3,537/mo
↑ 20.2% YoY +67% vs state +101% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $1,234
$1,485
+$251 (+20.3%)
1 Bedroom $1,385
$1,642
+$257 (+18.6%)
2 Bedroom $1,778
$2,154
+$376 (+21.1%)
3 Bedroom $2,491
$2,996
+$505 (+20.3%)
4 Bedroom $2,942
$3,537
+$595 (+20.2%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
20.4%
Affordable
Need $59,400/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
22.5%
Affordable
Need $65,680/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
29.6%
Affordable
Need $86,160/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
41.1%
Burdened
Need $119,840/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
48.5%
Burdened
Need $141,480/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.

0%100%National avg22%29.6%
Gallatin County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $87,454 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Montana rent burden →

Where Gallatin sits among every US county

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

$2,154 Top 3% higher than 97% 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%). Below this entry. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). Below this entry. $1,800–$2,000: 108 counties (3%). Below this entry. $2,000–$2,200: 29 counties (1%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Gallatin compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Montana counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Gallatin is highlighted. Nearby Montana counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Gallatin County (this county) ($1,642), Missoula County ($1,400), Lewis and Clark County ($1,319), Flathead County ($1,289), Ravalli County ($1,145), Yellowstone County ($1,109), Cascade County ($979).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

Against a high local FMR of $1,642/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Montana BLS wages?

Occupation MT Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $100,190 19.7% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $85,240 23.1% Affordable
Registered Nurses $81,560 24.2% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $74,400 26.5% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $69,910 28.2% Affordable
Electricians $68,980 28.6% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $59,060 33.4% Stretched
Elementary School Teachers $56,200 35.1% Stretched
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $54,230 36.3% Stretched
Pharmacy Technicians $46,980 41.9% Stretched
Customer Service Representatives $43,820 45% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $37,390 52.7% Unaffordable
Retail Salespersons $35,000 56.3% Unaffordable
Teaching Assistants $33,720 58.4% Unaffordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $29,280 67.3% Unaffordable
Salaries: BLS OES (Montana) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Gallatin (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 116.1% overall, from $760 to $1,642. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 38.6% (FY 2025), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.

$600$800$1,000$1,200$1,400$1,600$1,800 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,642
Gallatin County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑18.6% $1,485 $1,642 $2,154
FY 2025 ↑38.6% $1,234 $1,385 $1,778
FY 2024 ↑11.7% $901 $999 $1,275
FY 2023 ↑8.4% $819 $894 $1,164
FY 2022 ↓2.4% $754 $825 $1,078
FY 2021 ↑11.2% $783 $845 $1,100
FY 2020 $698 $760 $991
Total change (6yr): +116.1%
Annualized: +13.7%/yr
1 BR: $760 → $1,642

Part of the Bozeman, MT Metro Area

Gallatin County is a central county of the Bozeman, MT metropolitan statistical area.

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Gallatin County, both outside Montana so the link neighborhoods are not the same-state geography lattice above. Axes stay disjoint: burden peers exclude the FMR peer set.

Similar 2-bedroom FMR

Nearest HUD 2BR Fair Market Rents outside MT (FY2026).

Dukes County
MA · 2 BR $2,143/mo
Grand Isle County
VT · 2 BR $2,140/mo
Franklin County
VT · 2 BR $2,140/mo
Chittenden County
VT · 2 BR $2,140/mo

Similar rent burden

Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside MT).

Trigg County
KY · 29.6% of income · 2 BR $1,346/mo
Orleans County
NY · 29.6% of income · 2 BR $1,573/mo
Briscoe County
TX · 29.6% of income · 2 BR $1,015/mo
Turner County
GA · 29.5% of income · 2 BR $973/mo

Nearby Counties in Montana

Largest counties by population in Montana

Showing the 8 largest of 55 other counties in Montana.

Yellowstone County
1 BR: $1,109/mo Pop: 165,524
Missoula County
1 BR: $1,400/mo Pop: 118,541
Flathead County
1 BR: $1,289/mo Pop: 105,950
Cascade County
1 BR: $979/mo Pop: 84,423
Lewis and Clark County
1 BR: $1,319/mo Pop: 71,487
Ravalli County
1 BR: $1,145/mo Pop: 44,876
Silver Bow County
1 BR: $1,149/mo Pop: 35,306
Lake County
1 BR: $1,104/mo Pop: 31,509
View all counties in Montana →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Gallatin County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Gallatin County is $1,642 per month. A 2-bedroom is $2,154 and a studio is $1,485.
How does Gallatin County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Gallatin County is 71% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,642 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Gallatin County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Gallatin County's 2-bedroom FMR of $2,154 ranks #94 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the highest-rent tenth of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Gallatin County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $65,680 ($5,473/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Gallatin County.
Is rent going up or down in Gallatin County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Gallatin County increased by 18.6% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,385 to $1,642.
Which jobs can afford rent in Gallatin County? ▼
Based on Montana BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,642/mo. 6 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Gallatin County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Gallatin County went from $760 in FY 2020 to $1,642 in FY 2026, a total change of +116.1% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Gallatin County? ▼
In Gallatin County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,642/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 Gallatin County? ▼
For Gallatin County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,642/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

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.