County FMR · HUD FY2026

St. Louis city Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for St. Louis city, MO - 4% above the US average.

Compiled by PlainRent · August 26, 2026

$995
1-bedroom FMR: $1,218
2-bedroom FMR: +1.1%
YoY change: +4%
vs US avg

The verdict

St. Louis city is the 11th most expensive of 116 counties in Missouri by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #944 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.

#944
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR): #11
most expensive of 116 in Missouri (2BR): +28%
vs the state average: $39,800
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (10.4%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (41.1%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for St. Louis city, MO. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for St. Louis city, Missouri at $995 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,218/mo and a studio is $955/mo. This is 4% higher than the national average of $959 and 28% above the Missouri average of $777.

Rent increased1.1% from FY 2025 ($984), roughly tracking inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $39,800/year for a 1-bedroom.

Observed renter burden: 42.3% of the 78,939 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 Missouri. Population: 298,018. Population declined 5.8% over the past five years (Census ACS), a trend that can ease rental-market pressure over time even as FMR reflects recent rent levels. That's slower than Missouri's statewide growth of +1.3% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area ST·LOUIS·CITY·MO·MO

St. Louis city, MO: $995/mo 1BR · #944 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

FMR-AREA MO
1BR-FMR $995
2BR-FMR $1,218
RANK-MID #944
YOY-FLAT +1.1%
VSUS-NEAR +4%
VS-ST-HIGH +28% MO
INC-MID 22%
POP-MAJOR 298K
PHOTO-FINISH St. Louis County
VOUCH-90-110 $896–$1,095
FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: St. Louis ($0 1BR gap)

Read with: How Fair Market Rent works

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio

State avg: $734 · US avg: $893

$955/mo

↑ 0.4% YoY +30% vs state +7% vs US

1 Bedroom

State avg: $777 · US avg: $959

$995/mo

↑ 1.1% YoY +28% vs state +4% vs US

2 Bedroom

State avg: $972 · US avg: $1,175

$1,218/mo

↑ 0.2% YoY +25% vs state +4% vs US

3 Bedroom

State avg: $1,268 · US avg: $1,525

$1,568/mo

↓ 0.1% YoY +24% vs state +3% vs US

4 Bedroom

State avg: $1,460 · US avg: $1,756

$1,812/mo

↑ 0.3% YoY +24% vs state +3% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms	FY 2025	FY 2026	Change	vs State	vs US
Studio	$951	$955	+$4 (+0.4%)	+30%	+7%
1 Bedroom	$984	$995	+$11 (+1.1%)	+28%	+4%
2 Bedroom	$1,215	$1,218	+$3 (+0.2%)	+25%	+4%
3 Bedroom	$1,570	$1,568	$-2 (-0.1%)	+24%	+3%
4 Bedroom	$1,806	$1,812	+$6 (+0.3%)	+24%	+3%

Rent Burden Analysis

How much of household income goes to rent in St. Louis city. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.

Studio

20.7%

Affordable

Need $38,200/yr for 30% rule

1 Bedroom

21.6%

Affordable

Need $39,800/yr for 30% rule

2 Bedroom

26.4%

Affordable

Need $48,720/yr for 30% rule

3 Bedroom

34%

Burdened

Need $62,720/yr for 30% rule

4 Bedroom

39.3%

Burdened

Need $72,480/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.

St. Louis city 2-bedroom rent burden

County median income: $55,279 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Missouri rent burden →

Where St. Louis city sits among every US county

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

$1,218 Top 30% higher than 70% 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

Jackson

$1,197
Clay

$1,197
St. Louis city

$995
St. Louis

$995
St. Charles

$995
Jefferson

$995
Greene

$883

What this shows St. Louis city is highlighted. Nearby Missouri counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Jackson County ($1,197), Clay County ($1,197), St. Louis city (this county) ($995), St. Louis County ($995), St. Charles County ($995), Jefferson County ($995), Greene County ($883).

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $995/mo compares to Missouri salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation	MO Salary	Rent Burden	Verdict
Software Developers	$114,550	10.4%	Affordable
Registered Nurses	$79,770	15%	Affordable
General & Operations Managers	$77,410	15.4%	Affordable
Accountants & Auditors	$73,210	16.3%	Affordable
Electricians	$70,950	16.8%	Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers	$60,720	19.7%	Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants	$58,730	20.3%	Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers	$50,540	23.6%	Affordable
Elementary School Teachers	$48,250	24.7%	Affordable
Customer Service Representatives	$41,850	28.5%	Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians	$37,990	31.4%	Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners	$34,080	35%	Stretched
Retail Salespersons	$31,250	38.2%	Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers	$29,310	40.7%	Stretched
Teaching Assistants	$29,060	41.1%	Stretched

Salaries: BLS OES (Missouri) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

7-year Fair Market Rent history for St. Louis city. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for St. Louis city (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 41.9% overall, from $701 to $995. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +22.3% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

St. Louis city 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026

Year	Studio	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
FY 2026 ↑1.1%	$955	$995	$1,218	$1,568	$1,812
FY 2025 ↑1.2%	$951	$984	$1,215	$1,570	$1,806
FY 2024 ↑22.3%	$928	$972	$1,209	$1,565	$1,818
FY 2023 ↑6.7%	$748	$795	$999	$1,294	$1,512
FY 2022 ↑1.9%	$689	$745	$947	$1,230	$1,449
FY 2021 ↑4.3%	$671	$731	$938	$1,224	$1,440
FY 2020	$633	$701	$905	$1,185	$1,395

Total change (6yr): +41.9%

Annualized: +6.0%/yr

1 BR: $701 → $995

Part of the St. Louis, MO-IL Metro Area

St. Louis city is a central county of the St. Louis, MO-IL metropolitan statistical area, alongside 14 other metro-area counties.

St. Louis city ranks #13 of 15 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: St. Louis County ($995), St. Charles County ($995), Madison County ($995), St. Clair County ($995), Jefferson County ($995), Franklin County ($995), Lincoln County ($995), Clinton County ($995), Warren County ($995), Monroe County ($995), Jersey County ($995), Calhoun County ($995), St. Louis city (this county) ($995), Bond County ($836), Macoupin County ($698).

St. Louis city (this county)

1 BR: $995/mo

Show all 15 counties in this metro area

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for St. Louis city, both outside Missouri 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 MO (FY2026).

Similar rent burden

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

Miller County

AR · 26.4% of income · 2 BR $1,101/mo

Tehama County

CA · 26.4% of income · 2 BR $1,362/mo

Union County

NJ · 26.4% of income · 2 BR $2,205/mo

Coos County

NH · 26.4% of income · 2 BR $1,287/mo

Nearby Counties in Missouri

Largest counties by population in Missouri

Showing the 8 largest of 115 other counties in Missouri.

St. Louis County

1 BR: $995/mo Pop: 999,703

Jackson County

1 BR: $1,197/mo Pop: 715,526

St. Charles County

1 BR: $995/mo Pop: 406,262

Greene County

1 BR: $883/mo Pop: 299,188

Clay County

1 BR: $1,197/mo Pop: 253,085

Jefferson County

1 BR: $995/mo Pop: 226,984

Boone County

1 BR: $1,011/mo Pop: 184,043

Jasper County

1 BR: $765/mo Pop: 122,788

Compare St. Louis city against

View all counties in Missouri →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in St. Louis city? ▼

The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in St. Louis city is $995 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,218 and a studio is $955.

How does St. Louis city rent compare to the national average? ▼

Rent in St. Louis city is 4% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $995 compared to $959 nationally.

Where does St. Louis city rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼

According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, St. Louis city's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,218 ranks #944 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the middle half of HUD counties.

What income do I need to afford rent in St. Louis city? ▼

Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $39,800 ($3,317/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in St. Louis city.

Is rent going up or down in St. Louis city? ▼

The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in St. Louis city increased by 1.1% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $984 to $995.

Which jobs can afford rent in St. Louis city? ▼

Based on Missouri BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, Registered Nurses, General and Operations Managers can afford a 1-bedroom at $995/mo. 10 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.

How much has rent changed in St. Louis city over time? ▼

The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in St. Louis city went from $701 in FY 2020 to $995 in FY 2026, a total change of +41.9% over 6 years.

How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in St. Louis city? ▼

In St. Louis city, the FY 2026 FMR of $995/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 St. Louis city? ▼

For St. Louis city, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($995/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.