County FMR · HUD FY2026
Kenai Peninsula Borough Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Kenai Peninsula Borough, AK - 4% above the US average.
- $1,000
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,312
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +5.4%
- YoY change
- +4%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Kenai Peninsula is the 10th cheapest of 30 counties in Alaska by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 5.4% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #10
- cheapest of 30 in Alaska (2BR)
- -16%
- vs the state average
- $40,000
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +5.4%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (10%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (39.3%); nearby Alaska counties range as much as 64% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Kenai Peninsula Borough, AK. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska is $1,000 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,312/mo and a studio is $993/mo. This is 4% higher than the national average of $959 and 16% below the Alaska average of $1,194.
Rent increased5.4% from FY 2025 ($949), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $40,000/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Alaska. Population: 59,235. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+2.8%, Census ACS). That's faster than Alaska's statewide growth of -0.6% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Kenai Peninsula Borough
The Kenai Peninsula Borough FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Alaska'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 4% above the US average of $959 and 16% lower than the Alaska state average of $1,194. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$949 in FY 2025 to $1,000 in FY 2026 - a change of +5.4%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,000, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $40,000 per year (about $3,333/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,312 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 59,235 and a county median household income of $77,722, 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 | $943 | $993 | +$50 (+5.3%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $949 | $1,000 | +$51 (+5.4%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,245 | $1,312 | +$67 (+5.4%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,745 | $1,825 | +$80 (+4.6%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,091 | $2,201 | +$110 (+5.3%) |
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 Kenai Peninsula Borough. 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.
Kenai Peninsula Borough 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Kenai Peninsula sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,312 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 Kenai Peninsula compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Alaska counties
- Bethel
Bethel Census Area
$1,719 1BR FMR / mo
- Juneau City and
Juneau City and Borough
$1,340 1BR FMR / mo
- Fairbanks North Star
Fairbanks North Star Borough
$1,277 1BR FMR / mo
- Anchorage Municipality
Anchorage Municipality
$1,243 1BR FMR / mo
- Ketchikan Gateway
Ketchikan Gateway Borough
$1,238 1BR FMR / mo
- Matanuska-Susitna
Matanuska-Susitna Borough
$1,049 1BR FMR / mo
- Kenai Peninsula
Kenai Peninsula Borough
$1,000 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Kenai Peninsula is highlighted. Nearby Alaska counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Bethel Census Area ($1,719), Juneau City and Borough ($1,340), Fairbanks North Star Borough ($1,277), Anchorage Municipality ($1,243), Ketchikan Gateway Borough ($1,238), Matanuska-Susitna Borough ($1,049), Kenai Peninsula Borough (this county) ($1,000).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $1,000/mo compares to Alaska salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | AK Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $119,600 | 10% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $120,470 | 10% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $110,690 | 10.8% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $100,300 | 12% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $81,950 | 14.6% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $81,860 | 14.7% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $76,290 | 15.7% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $64,890 | 18.5% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $61,120 | 19.6% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $50,440 | 23.8% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $44,760 | 26.8% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $39,040 | 30.7% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $36,940 | 32.5% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $34,430 | 34.9% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $30,560 | 39.3% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Kenai Peninsula Borough. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Kenai Peninsula (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 10.5% overall, from $905 to $1,000. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 10.1% (FY 2023).
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑5.4% | $993 | $1,000 | $1,312 |
| FY 2025 ↓4.1% | $943 | $949 | $1,245 |
| FY 2024 ↑9.6% | $984 | $990 | $1,301 |
| FY 2023 ↑10.1% | $901 | $903 | $1,179 |
| FY 2022 ↑0.4% | $815 | $820 | $1,072 |
| FY 2021 ↓9.7% | $814 | $817 | $1,077 |
| FY 2020 | $896 | $905 | $1,192 |
Where Kenai Peninsula Borough Ranks in Alaska
Kenai Peninsula Borough is not part of any federally-designated metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area -- an independent rental market not administratively tied to a larger urban core. By 2-bedroom FMR, it ranks #10 of 30 counties in Alaska. Nearest by rank: Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area ($1,153), Denali Borough ($1,187), Wrangell City and Borough ($1,217), Bristol Bay Borough ($1,243), Dillingham Census Area ($1,247), Kenai Peninsula Borough (this county) ($1,312), Southeast Fairbanks Census Area ($1,313), Haines Borough ($1,321), Matanuska-Susitna Borough ($1,376), Aleutians East Borough ($1,385), Yakutat City and Borough ($1,388).
Nearby Counties in Alaska
Largest counties by population in Alaska
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Kenai Peninsula Borough? ▼
How does Kenai Peninsula Borough rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Kenai Peninsula Borough? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Kenai Peninsula Borough? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Kenai Peninsula Borough? ▼
How much has rent changed in Kenai Peninsula Borough over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Kenai Peninsula Borough? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Kenai Peninsula Borough? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Kenai Peninsula'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 $1,000 implies about $40,000/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 Kenai Peninsula 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.