County FMR · HUD FY2026
King County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for King County, WA - 124% above the US average.
- $2,146
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $2,501
- 2-bedroom FMR
- -6.4%
- YoY change
- +124%
- vs US avg
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for King County, WA. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in King County, Washington is $2,146 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $2,501/mo and a studio is $2,074/mo.
This is 124% higher than the national average of $959 and 82% above the Washington average of $1,180. Rent decreased6.4% from FY 2025 ($2,293), declining against the trend. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $85,840/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Washington. Population: 2,254,371.
What these rents mean for King County
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule sets the King County Washington 1-bedroom at $2,146, with a studio at $2,074, 2-bedroom at $2,501, 3-bedroom at $3,272, and 4-bedroom at $3,847. These figures represent the 40th percentile of gross rents, meaning 60% of standard-quality rental units in this HUD area cost more. The King County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Washington's housing authorities use it as the baseline when setting Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards (typically 90%–110% of FMR).
Compared to the rest of the country, a 1-bedroom here is 124% above the US average of $959 and 82% higher than the Washington state average of $1,180. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from $2,293 in FY 2025 to $2,146 in FY 2026 - a change of -6.4%, which is unusual and suggests softening demand or revised HUD sampling.
For budgeting, the traditional 30% affordability rule says rent should not exceed 30% of gross household income. At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $2,146, that implies a household income of $85,840 per year (about $7,153/month) to stay affordable, a 2-bedroom at $2,501 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 2,254,371 and a county median household income of $122,148, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened. Rent-burdened households (paying more than 30% of income) and severely burdened households (above 50%) face a sharply higher risk of housing instability, and this county's numbers set the benchmark for assessing that risk.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,238 | $2,074 | $-164 (-7.3%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $2,293 | $2,146 | $-147 (-6.4%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $2,671 | $2,501 | $-170 (-6.4%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $3,521 | $3,272 | $-249 (-7.1%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $4,104 | $3,847 | $-257 (-6.3%) |
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 King County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.
How King compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Washington counties
- King
King County
$2,146 1BR FMR / mo
- Snohomish
Snohomish County
$2,146 1BR FMR / mo
- Thurston
Thurston County
$1,682 1BR FMR / mo
- Clark
Clark County
$1,677 1BR FMR / mo
- Pierce
Pierce County
$1,605 1BR FMR / mo
- Kitsap
Kitsap County
$1,548 1BR FMR / mo
- Spokane
Spokane County
$1,193 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows King is highlighted. Bars are FY2026 HUD 1-bedroom Fair Market Rents.
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $2,146/mo compares to Washington salaries for popular occupations, using the 30%-of-income affordability rule. Wage figures are state-level median annual earnings from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics.
| Occupation | WA Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $166,910 | 15.4% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $130,240 | 19.8% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $112,180 | 23% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $102,640 | 25.1% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $99,110 | 26% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $96,530 | 26.7% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $96,180 | 26.8% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $78,010 | 33% | Stretched |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $63,760 | 40.4% | Stretched |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $56,140 | 45.9% | Stretched |
| Customer Service Representatives | $49,150 | 52.4% | Unaffordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $47,210 | 54.5% | Unaffordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $43,720 | 58.9% | Unaffordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $38,350 | 67.1% | Unaffordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $36,820 | 69.9% | Unaffordable |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for King County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↓6.4% | $2,074 | $2,146 | $2,501 |
| FY 2025 ↑1.1% | $2,238 | $2,293 | $2,671 |
| FY 2024 ↑8.0% | $2,211 | $2,269 | $2,645 |
| FY 2023 ↑20.8% | $2,042 | $2,100 | $2,455 |
| FY 2022 ↑8.8% | $1,674 | $1,739 | $2,044 |
| FY 2021 ↓8.2% | $1,523 | $1,599 | $1,906 |
| FY 2020 | $1,627 | $1,741 | $2,099 |
Nearby Counties in Washington
Largest counties by population in Washington
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in King County? ▼
How does King County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in King County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in King County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in King County? ▼
How much has rent changed in King County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in King County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for King County? ▼
Rental Guides
Explore more rent data
More HUD Fair Market Rent tools and rankings for King County and beyond.
What this means for renters
Treat King'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 $2,146 implies about $85,840/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 King can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year.
Data Sources
Primary source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), FY 2026 Fair Market Rents. FMRs represent the 40th percentile of gross rents for standard quality units in each area.
Affordability data: Income-to-rent ratios calculated using the 30% affordability standard. Population and income data from U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) estimates.
Salary data: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, used for job affordability analysis.
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.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
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