HUD FY2026 · National FMR ranking
Cheapest Rent for 3-Bedroom Apartments
The most affordable counties for 3-bedroom units by Fair Market Rent. The cheapest county runs just $930 for a 3-bedroom, the best options for larger families.
- $930
- Cheapest county (3BR) - Bullock
- $1,143
- Cheapest metro (3BR)
- 3,145
- Counties ranked
Most affordable areas by 3-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY 2026, ranked across all 50 states, the best options for larger families. Three-bedroom FMRs run well above studio and 1-bedroom rates in the same county. Figures come from HUD's published FMR tables; see our methodology.
Top 10 cheapest counties by 3-bedroom FMR
HUD Fair Market Rent, the FY2026 ceiling HUD will subsidize for a modest 3-bedroom unit
- Bullock County
Bullock County
$930 3BR FMR / mo
- Crenshaw County
Crenshaw County
$930 3BR FMR / mo
- Perry County
Perry County
$963 3BR FMR / mo
- Escambia County
Escambia County
$972 3BR FMR / mo
- Franklin County
Franklin County
$976 3BR FMR / mo
- Randolph County
Randolph County
$980 3BR FMR / mo
- DeKalb County
DeKalb County
$992 3BR FMR / mo
- Pickens County
Pickens County
$994 3BR FMR / mo
- Covington County
Covington County
$999 3BR FMR / mo
- Claiborne Parish
Claiborne Parish
$1,000 3BR FMR / mo
What this shows Bullock County is the most affordable county in the nation for a 3-bedroom. Rural counties across the South and Midwest fill the cheapest tier.
Top 50 Cheapest Counties, 3-Bedroom
| # | County | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bullock County | $576 | $708 | $776 | $930 | $1,302 |
| 2 | Crenshaw County | $588 | $591 | $776 | $930 | $1,027 |
| 3 | Perry County | $596 | $636 | $803 | $963 | $1,198 |
| 4 | Escambia County | $576 | $675 | $776 | $972 | $1,203 |
| 5 | Franklin County | $576 | $704 | $776 | $976 | $1,071 |
| 6 | Randolph County | $536 | $634 | $778 | $980 | $1,126 |
| 7 | DeKalb County | $576 | $591 | $776 | $992 | $1,302 |
| 8 | Pickens County | $588 | $591 | $776 | $994 | $1,290 |
| 9 | Covington County | $576 | $591 | $776 | $999 | $1,302 |
| 10 | Claiborne Parish | $601 | $706 | $834 | $1,000 | $1,249 |
| 11 | Butler County | $622 | $638 | $837 | $1,004 | $1,139 |
| 12 | Jackson County | $576 | $643 | $776 | $1,004 | $1,234 |
| 13 | Cherokee County | $627 | $682 | $844 | $1,012 | $1,259 |
| 14 | Greene County | $727 | $768 | $842 | $1,012 | $1,118 |
| 15 | Monroe County | $727 | $768 | $842 | $1,012 | $1,115 |
| 16 | Newton County | $638 | $642 | $842 | $1,012 | $1,115 |
| 17 | Prentiss County | $638 | $642 | $842 | $1,012 | $1,118 |
| 18 | Smith County | $727 | $768 | $842 | $1,012 | $1,118 |
| 19 | Webster County | $708 | $713 | $842 | $1,012 | $1,115 |
| 20 | Barbour County | $576 | $693 | $776 | $1,017 | $1,068 |
| 21 | Marengo County | $582 | $693 | $783 | $1,018 | $1,187 |
| 22 | Jefferson Davis County | $693 | $698 | $842 | $1,020 | $1,118 |
| 23 | Choctaw County | $578 | $616 | $778 | $1,024 | $1,179 |
| 24 | Clay County | $576 | $591 | $776 | $1,024 | $1,027 |
| 25 | Lamar County | $618 | $636 | $776 | $1,024 | $1,040 |
| 26 | Tallapoosa County | $637 | $663 | $857 | $1,030 | $1,216 |
| 27 | Marion County | $651 | $655 | $860 | $1,031 | $1,366 |
| 28 | Clarke County | $588 | $603 | $791 | $1,034 | $1,261 |
| 29 | Caldwell County | $619 | $714 | $866 | $1,038 | $1,209 |
| 30 | Casey County | $619 | $790 | $866 | $1,038 | $1,169 |
| 31 | Crittenden County | $619 | $660 | $866 | $1,038 | $1,209 |
| 32 | Knott County | $619 | $683 | $866 | $1,038 | $1,209 |
| 33 | Knox County | $619 | $745 | $866 | $1,038 | $1,453 |
| 34 | Lincoln County | $619 | $753 | $866 | $1,038 | $1,147 |
| 35 | Magoffin County | $619 | $790 | $866 | $1,038 | $1,209 |
| 36 | Muhlenberg County | $619 | $660 | $866 | $1,038 | $1,224 |
| 37 | Russell County | $619 | $660 | $866 | $1,038 | $1,147 |
| 38 | Whitley County | $619 | $660 | $866 | $1,038 | $1,157 |
| 39 | Marion County | $535 | $591 | $776 | $1,039 | $1,302 |
| 40 | St. Landry Parish | $631 | $636 | $834 | $1,040 | $1,202 |
| 41 | Clinton County | $619 | $660 | $866 | $1,041 | $1,209 |
| 42 | Lincoln County | $667 | $714 | $869 | $1,042 | $1,177 |
| 43 | Ritchie County | $658 | $662 | $869 | $1,042 | $1,151 |
| 44 | Ohio County | $619 | $660 | $866 | $1,043 | $1,218 |
| 45 | Clarke County | $750 | $783 | $867 | $1,044 | $1,150 |
| 46 | Amite County | $708 | $713 | $855 | $1,047 | $1,139 |
| 47 | Emmons County | $679 | $683 | $873 | $1,047 | $1,464 |
| 48 | Allen Parish | $601 | $754 | $834 | $1,048 | $1,249 |
| 49 | Carroll County | $708 | $713 | $842 | $1,049 | $1,118 |
| 50 | Issaquena County | $708 | $713 | $842 | $1,049 | $1,118 |
Top 25 Cheapest Metro Areas, 3-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 can I find the cheapest 3-bedroom rent in the US? ▼
Based on FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents, the most affordable counties for 3-bedroom rentals are concentrated in rural areas of states like West Virginia, Mississippi, Arkansas, and parts of the Midwest. Many of these markets have 3-bedroom FMRs under $900/mo, far below the national average.
What income is needed to afford a 3-bedroom apartment? ▼
Using the 30% affordability rule, you need annual gross income of about 40 times the monthly 3-bedroom FMR. If the FMR is $900/mo, that's approximately $36,000/year. Families with housing vouchers can typically use 3-bedroom FMR as the payment standard for their voucher size.
Why is 3-bedroom FMR important for families? ▼
For families with two or more children, a 3-bedroom unit is often necessary for adequate space. HUD's 3-bedroom FMR guides housing assistance programs, and knowing these rates helps families compare affordability across different regions when making relocation decisions.
How much more expensive is a 3-bedroom vs a 2-bedroom? ▼
On average, 3-bedroom FMRs are 20–30% higher than 2-bedroom FMRs in the same county. In rural and lower-cost markets, the difference may be smaller. In high-cost urban markets, the gap can be larger due to limited larger-unit supply.
Rankings based on FY 2026 Fair Market Rents (FMR) published by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Counties sorted by 3-bedroom FMR ascending. Metro areas sorted by 1-bedroom FMR (HUD benchmark); 3-BR shown for reference.