County FMR · HUD FY2026
Monterey County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Monterey County, CA - 133% above the US average.
- $2,232
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $2,684
- 2-bedroom FMR
- -10.0%
- YoY change
- +133%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Monterey is the 15th most expensive of 58 counties in California by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has fallen 10.0% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #15
- most expensive of 58 in California (2BR)
- +36%
- vs the state average
- $89,280
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- -10.0%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (15.7%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (72.4%); only 6 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold; nearby California counties range as much as 68% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Monterey County, CA. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Monterey County, California is $2,232 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $2,684/mo and a studio is $2,173/mo. This is 133% higher than the national average of $959 and 36% above the California average of $1,647.
Rent decreased10.0% from FY 2025 ($2,479), declining against the trend. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $89,280/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in California. Population: 437,609. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+0.6%, Census ACS). That's in line with California's statewide growth of +0.2% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Monterey County
The Monterey County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and California'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 133% above the US average of $959 and 36% higher than the California state average of $1,647. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$2,479 in FY 2025 to $2,232 in FY 2026 - a change of -10.0%, which is unusual and suggests softening demand or revised HUD sampling.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $2,232, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $89,280 per year (about $7,440/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $2,684 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 437,609 and a county median household income of $94,486, 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 | $2,414 | $2,173 | $-241 (-10.0%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $2,479 | $2,232 | $-247 (-10.0%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $2,982 | $2,684 | $-298 (-10.0%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $4,025 | $3,623 | $-402 (-10.0%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $4,383 | $3,945 | $-438 (-10.0%) |
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 Monterey 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.
Monterey County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Monterey sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$2,684 Top 1% higher than 99% 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 Monterey compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other California counties
- Santa Clara
Santa Clara County
$2,982 1BR FMR / mo
- Orange
Orange County
$2,746 1BR FMR / mo
- San Diego
San Diego County
$2,459 1BR FMR / mo
- Monterey
Monterey County
$2,232 1BR FMR / mo
- Los Angeles
Los Angeles County
$2,085 1BR FMR / mo
- Riverside
Riverside County
$1,777 1BR FMR / mo
- San Bernardino
San Bernardino County
$1,777 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Monterey is highlighted. Nearby California counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Santa Clara County ($2,982), Orange County ($2,746), San Diego County ($2,459), Monterey County (this county) ($2,232), Los Angeles County ($2,085), Riverside County ($1,777), San Bernardino County ($1,777).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $2,232/mo compares to California salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | CA Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $170,910 | 15.7% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $140,330 | 19.1% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $125,240 | 21.4% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $115,400 | 23.2% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $98,190 | 27.3% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $96,360 | 27.8% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $76,540 | 35% | Stretched |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $72,960 | 36.7% | Stretched |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $59,950 | 44.7% | Stretched |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $49,640 | 54% | Unaffordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $47,790 | 56% | Unaffordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $45,460 | 58.9% | Unaffordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $38,640 | 69.3% | Unaffordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $37,250 | 71.9% | Unaffordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $37,010 | 72.4% | Unaffordable |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Monterey County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Monterey (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 52.1% overall, from $1,467 to $2,232. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 35.8% (FY 2023), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↓10.0% | $2,173 | $2,232 | $2,684 |
| FY 2025 ↑4.7% | $2,414 | $2,479 | $2,982 |
| FY 2024 ↑7.9% | $2,340 | $2,367 | $2,879 |
| FY 2023 ↑35.8% | $2,112 | $2,194 | $2,675 |
| FY 2022 ↑10.2% | $1,533 | $1,616 | $1,967 |
| FY 2021 ↓0.1% | $1,348 | $1,466 | $1,793 |
| FY 2020 | $1,334 | $1,467 | $1,810 |
Part of the Salinas, CA Metro Area
Monterey County is a central county of the Salinas, CA metropolitan statistical area.
Nearby Counties in California
Largest counties by population in California
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Monterey County? ▼
How does Monterey County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Monterey County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Monterey County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Monterey County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Monterey County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Monterey County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Monterey County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Monterey'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 $2,232 implies about $89,280/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 Monterey 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.