County FMR · HUD FY2026

San Bernardino County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for San Bernardino County, CA - 85% above the US average.

$1,777
1-bedroom FMR
$2,201
2-bedroom FMR
-4.0%
YoY change
+85%
vs US avg

The verdict

San Bernardino is the 21st most expensive of 58 counties in California by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #94 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.

#94
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#21
most expensive of 58 in California (2BR)
+8%
vs the state average
$71,080
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (12.5%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (57.6%); 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 San Bernardino County, CA. Verify with HUD →

San Bernardino County, California carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,777 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $2,201/mo and a studio is $1,692/mo. That's 85% above the national benchmark of $959 and 8% above the California average of $1,647.

Rent decreased4.0% from FY 2025 ($1,852), declining against the trend. Clearing the 30% rule here takes $71,080/year, a high bar relative to most US counties.

Observed renter burden: 55.2% of the 256,923 renter households counted by ACS paid at least 30% of income in gross rent. This ACS 2023 household measure is distinct from HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent benchmark above.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in California. Population: 2,180,563. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+2.5%, Census ACS). That's faster than California's statewide growth of +0.2% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area SAN·BERNARDINO·COUNTY·CA·CA

San Bernardino County, CA: $1,777/mo 1BR · #94 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA CA
  • 1BR-FMR $1,777
  • 2BR-FMR $2,201
  • RANK-UPPER #94
  • YOY-DOWN -4.0%
  • VSUS-HIGH +85%
  • VS-ST-NEAR +8% CA
  • INC-MID 26%
  • POP-MEGA 2.2M
  • PHOTO-NEAR Los Angeles County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $1,599–$1,955
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Los Angeles ($308 1BR gap)

Read with: Understanding rent burden

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,513 · US avg: $893
$1,692/mo
↓ 4.7% YoY +12% vs state +89% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,647 · US avg: $959
$1,777/mo
↓ 4.0% YoY +8% vs state +85% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $2,053 · US avg: $1,175
$2,201/mo
↓ 4.6% YoY +7% vs state +87% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $2,752 · US avg: $1,525
$2,912/mo
↓ 5.4% YoY +6% vs state +91% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $3,165 · US avg: $1,756
$3,514/mo
↓ 6.2% YoY +11% vs state +100% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $1,776
$1,692
$-84 (-4.7%)
1 Bedroom $1,852
$1,777
$-75 (-4.0%)
2 Bedroom $2,306
$2,201
$-105 (-4.6%)
3 Bedroom $3,079
$2,912
$-167 (-5.4%)
4 Bedroom $3,745
$3,514
$-231 (-6.2%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
24.7%
Affordable
Need $67,680/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
25.9%
Affordable
Need $71,080/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
32.1%
Burdened
Need $88,040/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
42.5%
Burdened
Need $116,480/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
51.3%
Severe
Need $140,560/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%32.1%
San Bernardino County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $82,184 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View California rent burden →

Where San Bernardino sits among every US county

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

$2,201 Top 3% higher than 97% 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 San Bernardino compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other California counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows San Bernardino 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), Alameda County ($2,385), Los Angeles County ($2,085), San Bernardino County (this county) ($1,777), Riverside County ($1,777).

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 $1,777/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using California BLS wages?

Occupation CA Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $170,910 12.5% Affordable
Registered Nurses $140,330 15.2% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $125,240 17% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $115,400 18.5% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $98,190 21.7% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $96,360 22.1% Affordable
Electricians $76,540 27.9% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $72,960 29.2% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $59,950 35.6% Stretched
Pharmacy Technicians $49,640 43% Stretched
Customer Service Representatives $47,790 44.6% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $45,460 46.9% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $38,640 55.2% Unaffordable
Retail Salespersons $37,250 57.2% Unaffordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $37,010 57.6% Unaffordable
Salaries: BLS OES (California) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for San Bernardino (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 72.5% overall, from $1,030 to $1,777. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +16.3% in FY 2023, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$800$1,000$1,200$1,400$1,600$1,800$2,000 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,777
San Bernardino County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↓4.0% $1,692 $1,777 $2,201
FY 2025 ↑15.0% $1,776 $1,852 $2,306
FY 2024 ↑15.2% $1,517 $1,611 $2,010
FY 2023 ↑16.3% $1,281 $1,398 $1,751
FY 2022 ↑8.7% $1,062 $1,202 $1,509
FY 2021 ↑7.4% $955 $1,106 $1,390
FY 2020 $875 $1,030 $1,289
Total change (6yr): +72.5%
Annualized: +9.5%/yr
1 BR: $1,030 → $1,777

Part of the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA Metro Area

San Bernardino County is a central county of the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metropolitan statistical area, alongside 1 other metro-area county.

San Bernardino County ranks #2 of 2 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Riverside County ($1,777), San Bernardino County (this county) ($1,777).

Riverside County
1 BR: $1,777/mo
San Bernardino County (this county)
1 BR: $1,777/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for San Bernardino County, both outside California 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 CA (FY2026).

Essex County
NJ · 2 BR $2,205/mo
Union County
NJ · 2 BR $2,205/mo
Morris County
NJ · 2 BR $2,205/mo
Sussex County
NJ · 2 BR $2,205/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Norfolk city
VA · 32.1% of income · 2 BR $1,713/mo
Lee County
FL · 32.2% of income · 2 BR $1,961/mo
Madison County
NC · 32.1% of income · 2 BR $1,567/mo
Copiah County
MS · 32.2% of income · 2 BR $1,288/mo

Nearby Counties in California

Largest counties by population in California

Showing the 8 largest of 57 other counties in California.

Los Angeles County
1 BR: $2,085/mo Pop: 9,936,690
San Diego County
1 BR: $2,459/mo Pop: 3,289,701
Orange County
1 BR: $2,746/mo Pop: 3,175,227
Riverside County
1 BR: $1,777/mo Pop: 2,429,487
Santa Clara County
1 BR: $2,982/mo Pop: 1,916,831
Alameda County
1 BR: $2,385/mo Pop: 1,663,823
Sacramento County
1 BR: $1,832/mo Pop: 1,579,211
Contra Costa County
1 BR: $2,385/mo Pop: 1,162,648
View all counties in California →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in San Bernardino County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in San Bernardino County is $1,777 per month. A 2-bedroom is $2,201 and a studio is $1,692.
How does San Bernardino County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in San Bernardino County is 85% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,777 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does San Bernardino County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, San Bernardino County's 2-bedroom FMR of $2,201 ranks #94 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 San Bernardino County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $71,080 ($5,923/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in San Bernardino County.
Is rent going up or down in San Bernardino County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in San Bernardino County decreased by 4.0% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,852 to $1,777.
Which jobs can afford rent in San Bernardino County? ▼
Based on California BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, Registered Nurses, General and Operations Managers can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,777/mo. 8 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in San Bernardino County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in San Bernardino County went from $1,030 in FY 2020 to $1,777 in FY 2026, a total change of +72.5% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in San Bernardino County? ▼
In San Bernardino County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,777/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 San Bernardino County? ▼
For San Bernardino County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,777/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.