El Centro, CA MSA
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents for the El Centro, CA MSA metro area. Population: 179,578.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Studio
National avg: $893
$939/mo
↓ 0.1% YoY
+5% vs US
1 Bedroom
National avg: $959
$1,038/mo
↓ 1.7% YoY
+8% vs US
2 Bedroom
National avg: $1,175
$1,362/mo
↓ 0.7% YoY
+16% vs US
3 Bedroom
National avg: $1,525
$1,845/mo
↓ 1.5% YoY
+21% vs US
4 Bedroom
National avg: $1,756
$2,285/mo
↓ 0.1% YoY
+30% vs US
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $940 | $939 | $-1 (-0.1%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,056 | $1,038 | $-18 (-1.7%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,371 | $1,362 | $-9 (-0.7%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,873 | $1,845 | $-28 (-1.5%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,287 | $2,285 | $-2 (-0.1%) |
Affordability Snapshot
Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:
Required annual income for 1 BR
$41,520
$3,460/month gross
Required annual income for 2 BR
$54,480
$4,540/month gross
Data source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, FY 2026 Fair Market Rents. Fair Market Rents represent the 40th percentile of gross rents for standard quality units in each area.