County FMR · HUD FY2026

San Luis Obispo County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for San Luis Obispo County, CA - 100% above the US average.

$1,914
1-bedroom FMR
$2,512
2-bedroom FMR
+16.5%
YoY change
+100%
vs US avg

The verdict

San Luis Obispo is the 17th most expensive of 58 counties in California by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 16.5% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.

#17
most expensive of 58 in California (2BR)
+16%
vs the state average
$76,560
income to afford it (30% rule)
+16.5%
YoY, FY2025→2026

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (13.4%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (62.1%); 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 Luis Obispo County, CA. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for San Luis Obispo County, California at $1,914 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $2,512/mo and a studio is $1,732/mo. This is 100% higher than the national average of $959 and 16% above the California average of $1,647.

Rent increased16.5% from FY 2025 ($1,643), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $76,560/year based on the 30% affordability rule.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in California. Population: 281,712. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+0.0%, Census ACS). That's in line with California's statewide growth of +0.2% over the same period.

What these rents mean for San Luis Obispo County

The San Luis Obispo 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.

San Luis Obispo County's 1-bedroom rent runs 100% above the US average of $959 and 16% higher than the California state average of $1,647. Over the past year, 1-bedroom rent here shifted from$1,643 in FY 2025 to $1,914 in FY 2026 - a change of +16.5%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.

At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,914, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $76,560 per year (about $6,380/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $2,512 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 281,712 and a county median household income of $93,398, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,513 · US avg: $893
$1,732/mo
↑ 17.2% YoY +14% vs state +94% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,647 · US avg: $959
$1,914/mo
↑ 16.5% YoY +16% vs state +100% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $2,053 · US avg: $1,175
$2,512/mo
↑ 16.5% YoY +22% vs state +114% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $2,752 · US avg: $1,525
$3,370/mo
↑ 17.1% YoY +22% vs state +121% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $3,165 · US avg: $1,756
$3,861/mo
↑ 18.4% YoY +22% vs state +120% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $1,478
$1,732
+$254 (+17.2%)
1 Bedroom $1,643
$1,914
+$271 (+16.5%)
2 Bedroom $2,156
$2,512
+$356 (+16.5%)
3 Bedroom $2,879
$3,370
+$491 (+17.1%)
4 Bedroom $3,262
$3,861
+$599 (+18.4%)

Affordability Snapshot

Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:

Required annual income for 1 BR
$76,560
$6,380/month gross
Required annual income for 2 BR
$100,480
$8,373/month gross

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
22.3%
Affordable
Need $69,280/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
24.6%
Affordable
Need $76,560/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
32.3%
Burdened
Need $100,480/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
43.3%
Burdened
Need $134,800/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
49.6%
Burdened
Need $154,440/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.

San Luis Obispo County 2-bedroom rent burden

0%100%National avg22%32.3%
San Luis Obispo County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $93,398 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View California rent burden →

Where San Luis Obispo sits among every US county

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

$2,512 Top 1% higher than 99% 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%). Below this entry. $2,400–$2,600: 13 counties (0%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Luis Obispo compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other California counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows San Luis Obispo 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), Los Angeles County ($2,085), San Luis Obispo County (this county) ($1,914), Riverside County ($1,777), San Bernardino County ($1,777).

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) As of FY2026

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $1,914/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 13.4% Affordable
Registered Nurses $140,330 16.4% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $125,240 18.3% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $115,400 19.9% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $98,190 23.4% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $96,360 23.8% Affordable
Electricians $76,540 30% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $72,960 31.5% Stretched
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $59,950 38.3% Stretched
Pharmacy Technicians $49,640 46.3% Stretched
Customer Service Representatives $47,790 48.1% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $45,460 50.5% Unaffordable
Janitors & Cleaners $38,640 59.4% Unaffordable
Retail Salespersons $37,250 61.7% Unaffordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $37,010 62.1% 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 Luis Obispo County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for San Luis Obispo (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 50.1% overall, from $1,275 to $1,914. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +16.5% in FY 2026, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$1,200$1,400$1,600$1,800$2,000 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,914
San Luis Obispo County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑16.5% $1,732 $1,914 $2,512
FY 2025 ↓5.1% $1,478 $1,643 $2,156
FY 2024 ↑10.9% $1,541 $1,731 $2,274
FY 2023 ↑8.7% $1,394 $1,561 $2,055
FY 2022 ↑13.7% $1,308 $1,436 $1,890
FY 2021 ↓0.9% $1,166 $1,263 $1,665
FY 2020 $1,153 $1,275 $1,657
Total change (6yr): +50.1%
Annualized: +7.0%/yr
1 BR: $1,275 → $1,914

Part of the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA Metro Area

San Luis Obispo County is a central county of the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA metropolitan statistical area.

Nearby Counties in California

Largest counties by population 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
San Bernardino County
1 BR: $1,777/mo Pop: 2,180,563
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
View all counties in California →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in San Luis Obispo County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in San Luis Obispo County is $1,914 per month. A 2-bedroom is $2,512 and a studio is $1,732.
How does San Luis Obispo County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in San Luis Obispo County is 100% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,914 compared to $959 nationally.
What income do I need to afford rent in San Luis Obispo County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $76,560 ($6,380/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in San Luis Obispo County.
Is rent going up or down in San Luis Obispo County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in San Luis Obispo County increased by 16.5% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,643 to $1,914.
Which jobs can afford rent in San Luis Obispo 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 $1,914/mo. 7 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in San Luis Obispo County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in San Luis Obispo County went from $1,275 in FY 2020 to $1,914 in FY 2026, a total change of +50.1% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in San Luis Obispo County? ▼
In San Luis Obispo County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,914/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 Luis Obispo County? ▼
For San Luis Obispo County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,914/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

What this means for renters

Treat San Luis Obispo'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 $1,914 implies about $76,560/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 San Luis Obispo 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.

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.