County FMR · HUD FY2026

Palm Beach County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Palm Beach County, FL - 98% above the US average.

$1,901
1-bedroom FMR
$2,254
2-bedroom FMR
+3.9%
YoY change
+98%
vs US avg

The verdict

Palm Beach is the 4th most expensive of 67 counties in Florida by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #63 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.

#63
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#4
most expensive of 67 in Florida (2BR)
+47%
vs the state average
$76,040
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (18%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (81.5%); only 5 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 Palm Beach County, FL. Verify with HUD →

The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Palm Beach County, Florida is $1,901 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $2,254/mo and a studio is $1,788/mo. This is 98% higher than the national average of $959 and 47% above the Florida average of $1,296.

Rent increased3.9% from FY 2025 ($1,830), outpacing inflation. Clearing the 30% rule here takes $76,040/year, a high bar relative to most US counties.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Florida. Population: 1,494,805. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+4.2%, Census ACS). That's slower than Florida's statewide growth of +6.5% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area PALM·BEACH·COUNTY·FL·FL

Palm Beach County, FL: $1,901/mo 1BR · #63 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA FL
  • 1BR-FMR $1,901
  • 2BR-FMR $2,254
  • RANK-UPPER #63
  • YOY-UP +3.9%
  • VSUS-HIGH +98%
  • VS-ST-HIGH +47% FL
  • INC-EDGE 28%
  • POP-MEGA 1.5M
  • PHOTO-NEAR Miami-Dade County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $1,711–$2,091
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Miami-Dade ($94 1BR gap)

Read with: Understanding rent burden

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,212 · US avg: $893
$1,788/mo
↑ 9.1% YoY +48% vs state +100% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,296 · US avg: $959
$1,901/mo
↑ 3.9% YoY +47% vs state +98% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,526 · US avg: $1,175
$2,254/mo
↑ 3.1% YoY +48% vs state +92% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,971 · US avg: $1,525
$2,920/mo
↑ 2.2% YoY +48% vs state +91% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,261 · US avg: $1,756
$3,388/mo
↓ 0.8% YoY +50% vs state +93% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $1,639
$1,788
+$149 (+9.1%)
1 Bedroom $1,830
$1,901
+$71 (+3.9%)
2 Bedroom $2,187
$2,254
+$67 (+3.1%)
3 Bedroom $2,856
$2,920
+$64 (+2.2%)
4 Bedroom $3,415
$3,388
$-27 (-0.8%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
26.5%
Affordable
Need $71,520/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
28.1%
Affordable
Need $76,040/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
33.3%
Burdened
Need $90,160/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
43.2%
Burdened
Need $116,800/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
50.1%
Severe
Need $135,520/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%33.3%
Palm Beach County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $81,115 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Florida rent burden →

Where Palm Beach sits among every US county

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

$2,254 Top 2% higher than 98% 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%). Below this entry. $2,200–$2,400: 40 counties (1%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Palm Beach compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Florida counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Palm Beach is highlighted. Nearby Florida counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Miami-Dade County ($1,995), Palm Beach County (this county) ($1,901), Broward County ($1,900), Orange County ($1,731), Hillsborough County ($1,696), Pinellas County ($1,696), Duval County ($1,382).

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 $1,901/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Florida BLS wages?

Occupation FL Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $126,550 18% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $100,750 22.6% Affordable
Registered Nurses $82,850 27.5% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $78,470 29.1% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $76,190 29.9% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $60,280 37.8% Stretched
Elementary School Teachers $55,550 41.1% Stretched
Electricians $53,100 43% Stretched
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $50,000 45.6% Stretched
Pharmacy Technicians $39,640 57.5% Unaffordable
Customer Service Representatives $38,890 58.7% Unaffordable
Retail Salespersons $31,950 71.4% Unaffordable
Janitors & Cleaners $31,540 72.3% Unaffordable
Teaching Assistants $30,230 75.5% Unaffordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $27,990 81.5% Unaffordable
Salaries: BLS OES (Florida) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Palm Beach (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 57.4% overall, from $1,208 to $1,901. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 20.7% (FY 2023), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.

$1,000$1,200$1,400$1,600$1,800$2,000 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,901
Palm Beach County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑3.9% $1,788 $1,901 $2,254
FY 2025 ↓1.1% $1,639 $1,830 $2,187
FY 2024 ↑20.4% $1,573 $1,851 $2,226
FY 2023 ↑20.7% $1,258 $1,538 $1,881
FY 2022 ↑8.0% $1,049 $1,274 $1,578
FY 2021 ↓2.3% $983 $1,180 $1,468
FY 2020 $1,015 $1,208 $1,506
Total change (6yr): +57.4%
Annualized: +7.8%/yr
1 BR: $1,208 → $1,901

Part of the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL Metro Area

Palm Beach County is a central county of the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metropolitan statistical area, alongside 2 other metro-area counties.

Palm Beach County ranks #2 of 3 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Miami-Dade County ($1,995), Palm Beach County (this county) ($1,901), Broward County ($1,900).

Miami-Dade County
1 BR: $1,995/mo
Palm Beach County (this county)
1 BR: $1,901/mo
Broward County
1 BR: $1,900/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Palm Beach County, both outside Florida 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 FL (FY2026).

Sacramento County
CA · 2 BR $2,255/mo
Placer County
CA · 2 BR $2,255/mo
El Dorado County
CA · 2 BR $2,255/mo
Fairfax County
VA · 2 BR $2,246/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Stewart County
GA · 33.4% of income · 2 BR $973/mo
New York County
NY · 33.4% of income · 2 BR $2,910/mo
Gates County
NC · 33.3% of income · 2 BR $1,709/mo
Owsley County
KY · 33.5% of income · 2 BR $866/mo

Nearby Counties in Florida

Largest counties by population in Florida

Showing the 8 largest of 66 other counties in Florida.

Miami-Dade County
1 BR: $1,995/mo Pop: 2,688,237
Broward County
1 BR: $1,900/mo Pop: 1,940,907
Hillsborough County
1 BR: $1,696/mo Pop: 1,468,560
Orange County
1 BR: $1,731/mo Pop: 1,427,403
Duval County
1 BR: $1,382/mo Pop: 995,708
Pinellas County
1 BR: $1,696/mo Pop: 959,918
Lee County
1 BR: $1,638/mo Pop: 772,902
Polk County
1 BR: $1,230/mo Pop: 736,229
View all counties in Florida →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Palm Beach County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Palm Beach County is $1,901 per month. A 2-bedroom is $2,254 and a studio is $1,788.
How does Palm Beach County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Palm Beach County is 98% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,901 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Palm Beach County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Palm Beach County's 2-bedroom FMR of $2,254 ranks #63 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 Palm Beach County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $76,040 ($6,337/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Palm Beach County.
Is rent going up or down in Palm Beach County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Palm Beach County increased by 3.9% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,830 to $1,901.
Which jobs can afford rent in Palm Beach County? ▼
Based on Florida BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,901/mo. 5 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Palm Beach County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Palm Beach County went from $1,208 in FY 2020 to $1,901 in FY 2026, a total change of +57.4% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Palm Beach County? ▼
In Palm Beach County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,901/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 Palm Beach County? ▼
For Palm Beach County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,901/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.