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; rent here has climbed 18.6% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.
- #1
- most expensive of 56 in Montana (2BR)
- +53%
- vs the state average
- $65,680
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +18.6%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
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. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $65,680/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
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.
What these rents mean for Gallatin County
The Gallatin County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Montana'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.
Gallatin County's 1-bedroom rent runs 71% above the US average of $959 and 53% higher than the Montana state average of $1,076. Over the past year, 1-bedroom rent here shifted from$1,385 in FY 2025 to $1,642 in FY 2026 - a change of +18.6%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,642, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $65,680 per year (about $5,473/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $2,154 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 119,685 and a county median household income of $87,454, 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 | $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%) |
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 Gallatin 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.
Gallatin County 2-bedroom 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
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
- Gallatin
Gallatin County
$1,642 1BR FMR / mo
- Missoula
Missoula County
$1,400 1BR FMR / mo
- Lewis and Clark
Lewis and Clark County
$1,319 1BR FMR / mo
- Flathead
Flathead County
$1,289 1BR FMR / mo
- Ravalli
Ravalli County
$1,145 1BR FMR / mo
- Yellowstone
Yellowstone County
$1,109 1BR FMR / mo
- Cascade
Cascade County
$979 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).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $1,642/mo compares to Montana salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| 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 |
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.
| 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 |
Part of the Bozeman, MT Metro Area
Gallatin County is a central county of the Bozeman, MT metropolitan statistical area.
Nearby Counties in Montana
Largest counties by population in Montana
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Gallatin County? ▼
How does Gallatin County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Gallatin County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Gallatin County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Gallatin County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Gallatin County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Gallatin County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Gallatin County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Gallatin'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 $1,642 implies about $65,680/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 Gallatin 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.