HUD FY2026 · National FMR ranking

Cheapest Rent for 2-Bedroom Apartments

The most affordable counties for 2-bedroom units by Fair Market Rent. The cheapest county runs just $776 for a 2-bedroom, ideal for couples and small families.

Compiled byPlainRent Editorial, Fair Market Rent Editorial Team

$776
Cheapest county (2BR) - Barbour: $834
Cheapest metro (2BR): 3,145
Counties ranked

Most affordable areas by 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY 2026, compared across all 50 states, ideal for couples and small families. Each figure is HUD's published 40th-percentile gross rent for the county. See our methodology.

Barbour County

$776
Bullock County

$776
Clay County

$776
Conecuh County

$776
Coosa County

$776
Covington County

$776
Crenshaw County

$776
Dale County

$776
DeKalb County

$776
Escambia County

$776

What this shows Barbour County is the most affordable county in the nation for a 2-bedroom. Rural counties across the South and Midwest fill the cheapest tier.

Top 50 Cheapest Counties, 2-Bedroom

#	County	Studio	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
1	Barbour County	$576	$693	$776	$1,017	$1,068
2	Bullock County	$576	$708	$776	$930	$1,302
3	Clay County	$576	$591	$776	$1,024	$1,027
4	Conecuh County	$576	$615	$776	$1,079	$1,157
5	Coosa County	$576	$615	$776	$1,079	$1,157
6	Covington County	$576	$591	$776	$999	$1,302
7	Crenshaw County	$588	$591	$776	$930	$1,027
8	Dale County	$603	$690	$776	$1,079	$1,302
9	DeKalb County	$576	$591	$776	$992	$1,302
10	Escambia County	$576	$675	$776	$972	$1,203
11	Fayette County	$576	$671	$776	$1,079	$1,157
12	Franklin County	$576	$704	$776	$976	$1,071
13	Jackson County	$576	$643	$776	$1,004	$1,234
14	Lamar County	$618	$636	$776	$1,024	$1,040
15	Marion County	$535	$591	$776	$1,039	$1,302
16	Marshall County	$588	$591	$776	$1,069	$1,073
17	Monroe County	$576	$619	$776	$1,079	$1,254
18	Pickens County	$588	$591	$776	$994	$1,290
19	Winston County	$576	$631	$776	$1,070	$1,150
20	Choctaw County	$578	$616	$778	$1,024	$1,179
21	Randolph County	$536	$634	$778	$980	$1,126
22	Marengo County	$582	$693	$783	$1,018	$1,187
23	Clarke County	$588	$603	$791	$1,034	$1,261
24	Perry County	$596	$636	$803	$963	$1,198
25	Talladega County	$561	$682	$814	$1,107	$1,112
26	Sumter County	$619	$642	$827	$1,107	$1,193
27	Allen Parish	$601	$754	$834	$1,048	$1,249
28	Bienville Parish	$601	$707	$834	$1,160	$1,399
29	Caldwell Parish	$604	$647	$834	$1,072	$1,249
30	Catahoula Parish	$601	$647	$834	$1,139	$1,249
31	Claiborne Parish	$601	$706	$834	$1,000	$1,249
32	Concordia Parish	$601	$647	$834	$1,139	$1,249
33	East Carroll Parish	$601	$647	$834	$1,139	$1,249
34	Evangeline Parish	$601	$667	$834	$1,085	$1,104
35	Franklin Parish	$601	$698	$834	$1,067	$1,249
36	Jackson Parish	$601	$761	$834	$1,160	$1,225
37	Madison Parish	$616	$638	$834	$1,100	$1,399
38	Morehouse Parish	$631	$636	$834	$1,143	$1,172
39	Red River Parish	$601	$647	$834	$1,073	$1,251
40	St. Landry Parish	$631	$636	$834	$1,040	$1,202
41	Tensas Parish	$601	$761	$834	$1,160	$1,249
42	Vermilion Parish	$580	$761	$834	$1,100	$1,104
43	Washington Parish	$727	$761	$834	$1,160	$1,388
44	West Carroll Parish	$601	$636	$834	$1,088	$1,138
45	Winn Parish	$601	$761	$834	$1,160	$1,249
46	Dallas County	$620	$637	$836	$1,103	$1,107
47	Butler County	$622	$638	$837	$1,004	$1,139
48	Adams County	$727	$768	$842	$1,111	$1,115
49	Alcorn County	$727	$768	$842	$1,158	$1,162
50	Attala County	$638	$642	$842	$1,115	$1,118

Top 25 Cheapest Metro Areas, 2-Bedroom

#	Metro Area	Studio	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
1	Morehouse Parish, LA HUD Metro FMR Area	$631	$636	$834	$1,143	$1,172
2	Cherokee County, KS HUD Metro FMR Area	$664	$668	$877	$1,157	$1,161
3	Little River County, AR HUD Metro FMR Area	$666	$671	$880	$1,166	$1,170
4	Acadia Parish, LA HUD Metro FMR Area	$607	$671	$880	$1,055	$1,194
5	Boone County, WV HUD Metro FMR Area	$669	$674	$869	$1,195	$1,458
6	Fayette County, WV HUD Metro FMR Area	$631	$697	$915	$1,195	$1,535
7	Fort Smith, AR-OK MSA	$683	$714	$937	$1,266	$1,532
8	Benton County, IA HUD Metro FMR Area	$659	$729	$956	$1,209	$1,348
9	Rock County, MN HUD Metro FMR Area	$727	$742	$973	$1,353	$1,357
10	Bosque County, TX HUD Metro FMR Area	$671	$742	$973	$1,283	$1,288
11	Parkersburg-Vienna, WV MSA	$741	$745	$928	$1,194	$1,253
12	Anniston-Oxford, AL MSA	$753	$757	$962	$1,300	$1,361
13	Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH MSA	$752	$757	$973	$1,285	$1,482
14	Allen County, KY HUD Metro FMR Area	$759	$759	$996	$1,224	$1,520
15	Dothan, AL HUD Metro FMR Area	$757	$762	$950	$1,288	$1,428
16	Youngstown-Warren, OH MSA	$735	$771	$973	$1,270	$1,345
17	Mansfield, OH MSA	$671	$773	$973	$1,315	$1,530
18	Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL MSA	$698	$775	$1,000	$1,242	$1,409
19	Decatur, AL MSA	$755	$776	$961	$1,262	$1,550
20	Alexandria, LA MSA	$728	$780	$994	$1,342	$1,523
21	Lawton, OK HUD Metro FMR Area	$779	$784	$1,001	$1,392	$1,679
22	Boone County, IA HUD Metro FMR Area	$783	$788	$1,026	$1,427	$1,500
23	Massac County, IL HUD Metro FMR Area	$784	$789	$969	$1,348	$1,415
24	Gadsden, AL MSA	$639	$792	$927	$1,124	$1,304
25	Callaway County, MO HUD Metro FMR Area	$789	$794	$1,042	$1,249	$1,472

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the cheapest 2-bedroom apartment rent in the US? ▼

Based on FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents, the cheapest counties for 2-bedroom apartments are found in rural areas of states like West Virginia, Arkansas, Mississippi, and South Dakota. These areas have 2-bedroom FMRs well below the national average, making them attractive for budget-conscious families.

What income do I need to afford a 2-bedroom apartment? ▼

Using the 30% rule, you need a gross annual income of at least 40 times the monthly rent. For example, if the 2-bedroom FMR is $800/mo, you need approximately $32,000/year. HUD Fair Market Rents represent the 40th percentile of market rates, so actual costs may vary.

How does 2-bedroom FMR compare to 1-bedroom FMR? ▼

Two-bedroom FMRs are typically 20–35% higher than 1-bedroom FMRs in the same county. The premium varies by market, competitive urban markets often show a larger gap, while rural areas tend to have smaller differences between bedroom sizes.

Can I use 2-bedroom FMR data for Section 8 housing? ▼

Yes. HUD's Fair Market Rents are used to determine Section 8 housing voucher payment standards. If you have a 2-bedroom voucher, HUD's 2-bedroom FMR for your area sets the ceiling for what the program will subsidize (landlords may charge more, but only up to that limit).

Cheapest Studio → Cheapest 1-BR → Cheapest 3-BR → Most expensive areas → Rent growth rankings →

Rankings based on FY 2026 Fair Market Rents (FMR) published by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Counties sorted by 2-bedroom FMR ascending. Metro areas sorted by 1-bedroom FMR (HUD benchmark); 2-BR shown for reference.