County FMR · HUD FY2026

Yellowstone County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Yellowstone County, MT - 16% above the US average.

$1,109
1-bedroom FMR
$1,417
2-bedroom FMR
+17.0%
YoY change
+16%
vs US avg

The verdict

Yellowstone is the 17th most expensive of 56 counties in Montana by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #566 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 17.0% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.

#566
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#17
most expensive of 56 in Montana (2BR)
+3%
vs the state average
$44,360
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (13.3%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (45.5%); nearby Montana 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 Yellowstone County, MT. Verify with HUD →

The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Yellowstone County, Montana is $1,109 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,417/mo and a studio is $1,016/mo. This is 16% higher than the national average of $959 and 3% above the Montana average of $1,076.

Rent increased17.0% from FY 2025 ($948), outpacing inflation. A household needs about $44,360/year to stay under the 30% rent-to-income line.

Observed renter burden: 45.4% of the 21,258 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 Montana. Population: 165,524. Population grew 6.0% over the past five years (Census ACS) - among the faster-growing counties nationally, a trend that typically adds upward pressure on rents. That's in line with Montana's statewide growth of +6.1% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area YELLOWSTONE·COUNTY·MT·MT

Yellowstone County, MT: $1,109/mo 1BR · #566 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA MT
  • 1BR-FMR $1,109
  • 2BR-FMR $1,417
  • RANK-MID #566
  • YOY-SURGE +17.0%
  • VSUS-ABOVE +16%
  • VS-ST-NEAR +3% MT
  • INC-ROOM 18%
  • POP-MID 166K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Gallatin County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $998–$1,220
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Gallatin ($533 1BR gap)

Read with: Understanding rent burden

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $988 · US avg: $893
$1,016/mo
↑ 12.4% YoY +3% vs state +14% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,076 · US avg: $959
$1,109/mo
↑ 17.0% YoY +3% vs state +16% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,336 · US avg: $1,175
$1,417/mo
↑ 15.6% YoY +6% vs state +21% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,789 · US avg: $1,525
$1,951/mo
↑ 15.8% YoY +9% vs state +28% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,113 · US avg: $1,756
$2,216/mo
↑ 16.8% YoY +5% vs state +26% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $904
$1,016
+$112 (+12.4%)
1 Bedroom $948
$1,109
+$161 (+17.0%)
2 Bedroom $1,226
$1,417
+$191 (+15.6%)
3 Bedroom $1,685
$1,951
+$266 (+15.8%)
4 Bedroom $1,897
$2,216
+$319 (+16.8%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
16.4%
Affordable
Need $40,640/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
17.9%
Affordable
Need $44,360/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
22.9%
Affordable
Need $56,680/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
31.5%
Burdened
Need $78,040/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
35.7%
Burdened
Need $88,640/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%22.9%
Yellowstone County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $74,400 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Montana rent burden →

Where Yellowstone sits among every US county

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

$1,417 Top 18% higher than 82% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). Above this entry. $1,800–$2,000: 108 counties (3%). Above this entry. $2,000–$2,200: 29 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,200–$2,400: 40 counties (1%). Above this entry. $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 Yellowstone compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Montana counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Yellowstone is highlighted. Nearby Montana counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Gallatin County ($1,642), Missoula County ($1,400), Lewis and Clark County ($1,319), Flathead County ($1,289), Ravalli County ($1,145), Yellowstone County (this county) ($1,109), Cascade County ($979).

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 $1,109/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Montana BLS wages?

Occupation MT Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $100,190 13.3% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $85,240 15.6% Affordable
Registered Nurses $81,560 16.3% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $74,400 17.9% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $69,910 19% Affordable
Electricians $68,980 19.3% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $59,060 22.5% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $56,200 23.7% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $54,230 24.5% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $46,980 28.3% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $43,820 30.4% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $37,390 35.6% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $35,000 38% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $33,720 39.5% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $29,280 45.5% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Montana) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Yellowstone (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 64.3% overall, from $675 to $1,109. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +17.0% in FY 2026, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$600$700$800$900$1,000$1,100$1,200 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,109
Yellowstone County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑17.0% $1,016 $1,109 $1,417
FY 2025 ↑8.5% $904 $948 $1,226
FY 2024 ↑9.1% $837 $874 $1,148
FY 2023 ↑9.7% $745 $801 $1,054
FY 2022 ↑0.7% $646 $730 $960
FY 2021 ↑7.4% $631 $725 $956
FY 2020 $579 $675 $889
Total change (6yr): +64.3%
Annualized: +8.6%/yr
1 BR: $675 → $1,109

Part of the Billings, MT Metro Area

Yellowstone County is a central county of the Billings, MT metropolitan statistical area, alongside 2 other metro-area counties.

Yellowstone County ranks #2 of 3 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Carbon County ($1,109), Yellowstone County (this county) ($1,109), Stillwater County ($958).

Carbon County
1 BR: $1,109/mo
Yellowstone County (this county)
1 BR: $1,109/mo
Stillwater County
1 BR: $958/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Yellowstone County, both outside Montana 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 MT (FY2026).

Kennebec County
ME · 2 BR $1,416/mo
Bartholomew County
IN · 2 BR $1,415/mo
Piscataquis County
ME · 2 BR $1,419/mo
Churchill County
NV · 2 BR $1,421/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Kent County
MI · 22.9% of income · 2 BR $1,531/mo
Manassas city
VA · 22.9% of income · 2 BR $2,246/mo
Greene County
MO · 22.9% of income · 2 BR $1,095/mo
Appomattox County
VA · 22.8% of income · 2 BR $1,187/mo

Nearby Counties in Montana

Largest counties by population in Montana

Showing the 8 largest of 55 other counties in Montana.

Gallatin County
1 BR: $1,642/mo Pop: 119,685
Missoula County
1 BR: $1,400/mo Pop: 118,541
Flathead County
1 BR: $1,289/mo Pop: 105,950
Cascade County
1 BR: $979/mo Pop: 84,423
Lewis and Clark County
1 BR: $1,319/mo Pop: 71,487
Ravalli County
1 BR: $1,145/mo Pop: 44,876
Silver Bow County
1 BR: $1,149/mo Pop: 35,306
Lake County
1 BR: $1,104/mo Pop: 31,509
View all counties in Montana →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Yellowstone County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Yellowstone County is $1,109 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,417 and a studio is $1,016.
How does Yellowstone County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Yellowstone County is 16% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,109 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Yellowstone County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Yellowstone County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,417 ranks #566 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the upper-rent quarter of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Yellowstone County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $44,360 ($3,697/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Yellowstone County.
Is rent going up or down in Yellowstone County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Yellowstone County increased by 17.0% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $948 to $1,109.
Which jobs can afford rent in Yellowstone County? ▼
Based on Montana BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,109/mo. 10 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Yellowstone County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Yellowstone County went from $675 in FY 2020 to $1,109 in FY 2026, a total change of +64.3% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Yellowstone County? ▼
In Yellowstone County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,109/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 Yellowstone County? ▼
For Yellowstone County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,109/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.