State FMR profile · HUD FY2026

Fair Market Rents in Colorado

The average 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent across Colorado is $1,161/mo - 21% above the US average.

$1,161
Avg 1BR FMR
64
Counties
7
Metro areas

The verdict

Colorado's 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent averages $1,429 - 22% above the US average, the 17th highest of 51 states.

Colorado's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom averages $1,429, 22% above the US average - the 17th highest of 51 states. A household needs about $57,160 in annual income to afford it under HUD's 30% affordability rule, and rents vary 172% between the state's cheapest and priciest counties.

#17
most expensive of 51 states (2BR)
+22%
vs the US 2-bedroom average
$57,160
income to afford it (30% rule)
172%
gap, cheapest→priciest county

Colorado ranks 17th priciest but 40th of 51 by rent GROWTH (+1.5% YoY) - a pricey state whose growth has actually cooled relative to the rest of the country.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents for 64 counties and 7 metro areas in CO. Verify with HUD →

What these rents mean for Colorado

Across Colorado's 64 counties and 7 metro areas, HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent averages $1,161/mo for a 1-bedroom (studio through 4-bedroom averages are broken out below). FMR is set at the county or metro FMR area level, not statewide, so that figure is the arithmetic average of every FMR area inside CO, weighted equally. Local housing authorities use each county's or metro's FMR (not the state average) to calibrate Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards, typically ranging from 90% to 110% of FMR.

Benchmarked against the rest of the country, Colorado's average 1-bedroom FMR of $1,161 is 21% above the US average of $959. Inside the state, rents are not uniform - the cheapest 1-bedroom FMR is in Costilla County at $742, while the most expensive is in Pitkin County at $2,020, a spread of roughly 172% between the lowest- and highest-cost counties. That intra-state dispersion is why urban voucher recipients, families relocating for jobs, and landlords setting Section 8 rents all need to check the specific FMR area rather than rely on a statewide figure.

For affordability, the 30% rule implies a household income of $46,440 per year (about $3,870/month) to afford Colorado's average 1-bedroom at $1,161. With a state population of 5,810,774 and median household income of $92,470, a significant share of Colorado renters fall above the 30% cost-burden threshold in higher-FMR counties. Pair these rent figures with Colorado's rent burden rankings and year-over-year rent growth pages to see which counties are tightening fastest and which remain comparatively affordable.

Where Colorado sits among all 50 states + DC

Average 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. every US state

$1,429 Top 33% higher than 67% of 51 states

$900–$1,000: 11 states (22%). Below this entry. $1,000–$1,100: 7 states (14%). Below this entry. $1,100–$1,200: 8 states (16%). Below this entry. $1,200–$1,300: 2 states (4%). Below this entry. $1,300–$1,400: 3 states (6%). Below this entry. $1,400–$1,500: 8 states (16%). This entry sits in this band. $1,500–$1,600: 3 states (6%). Above this entry. $1,600–$1,700: 1 states (2%). Above this entry. $1,700–$1,800: 1 states (2%). Above this entry. $1,800–$1,900: 1 states (2%). Above this entry. $1,900–$2,000: 1 states (2%). Above this entry. $2,000–$2,100: 1 states (2%). Above this entry. $2,100–$2,200: 1 states (2%). Above this entry. $2,200–$2,300: 2 states (4%). Above this entry. $2,300–$2,400: 0 states (0%). Above this entry. $2,400–$2,500: 1 states (2%). Above this entry. CO $900 $2,500 every US state, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $0.1K-wide band; taller bars hold more states. 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

State Average vs National Average

Studio
$1,083
+21% vs US avg
1 BR
$1,161
+21% vs US avg
2 BR
$1,429
+22% vs US avg
3 BR
$1,861
+22% vs US avg
4 BR
$2,178
+24% vs US avg

Most expensive counties in Colorado by 1-bedroom FMR

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent, the highest-cost 10 of 64 CO counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Inside CO, 1-bedroom FMR runs from $742 in Costilla County to $2,020 in Pitkin County.

Source HUD Fair Market Rents and U.S. Census Bureau ACS data As of FY2026

Cheapest Counties

Lowest FMR rental costs →

Most Expensive Counties

Highest FMR rental costs →

Rent Burden

% of income spent on rent →

Rent Growth

YoY rent trends by county →

Metro areas in Colorado

Each metro FMR area applies one rent schedule across all its counties, ranked here by 1-bedroom FMR.

# Metro area Studio1 BR2 BR3 BR4 BR
1 Boulder, CO MSA $1,553
$1,795
$2,124$2,820$3,239
2 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO MSA $1,643
$1,754
$2,089$2,734$3,049
3 Fort Collins-Loveland, CO MSA $1,509
$1,537
$1,732$2,385$2,540
4 Colorado Springs, CO HUD Metro FMR Area $1,196
$1,464
$1,735$2,413$2,744
5 Greeley, CO MSA $1,171
$1,238
$1,563$2,174$2,590
6 Grand Junction, CO MSA $881
$986
$1,249$1,737$2,095
7 Pueblo, CO MSA $875
$967
$1,269$1,617$1,893

Counties in Colorado, ranked by rent (64)

All 64 counties with a published FY2026 Fair Market Rent, highest 1-bedroom first.

64 of 64
# County Studio1 BR2 BR3 BR4 BR
1 Pitkin County $1,526
$2,020
$2,214$2,826$3,471
2 Summit County $1,701
$1,880
$2,467$2,958$3,268
3 Routt County $1,726
$1,845
$2,022$2,424$3,170
4 Eagle County $1,640
$1,813
$2,379$2,852$3,688
5 Boulder County $1,553
$1,795
$2,124$2,820$3,239
6 Adams County $1,643
$1,754
$2,089$2,734$3,049
7 Arapahoe County $1,643
$1,754
$2,089$2,734$3,049
8 Broomfield County $1,643
$1,754
$2,089$2,734$3,049
9 Clear Creek County $1,643
$1,754
$2,089$2,734$3,049
10 Denver County $1,643
$1,754
$2,089$2,734$3,049
11 Douglas County $1,643
$1,754
$2,089$2,734$3,049
12 Elbert County $1,643
$1,754
$2,089$2,734$3,049
13 Gilpin County $1,643
$1,754
$2,089$2,734$3,049
14 Jefferson County $1,643
$1,754
$2,089$2,734$3,049
15 Park County $1,643
$1,754
$2,089$2,734$3,049
16 Larimer County $1,509
$1,537
$1,732$2,385$2,540
17 El Paso County $1,196
$1,464
$1,735$2,413$2,744
18 Teller County $1,029
$1,362
$1,493$2,076$2,505
19 Grand County $1,107
$1,318
$1,475$1,769$2,474
20 San Miguel County $1,245
$1,254
$1,645$2,288$2,579
21 Ouray County $1,170
$1,245
$1,526$2,122$2,392
22 Weld County $1,171
$1,238
$1,563$2,174$2,590
23 Garfield County $1,215
$1,223
$1,605$2,232$2,391
24 La Plata County $1,181
$1,211
$1,589$1,942$2,288
25 Gunnison County $1,015
$1,149
$1,334$1,855$2,238
26 Archuleta County $1,134
$1,141
$1,337$1,859$2,243
27 San Juan County $945
$1,119
$1,227$1,509$1,924
28 Chaffee County $1,110
$1,117
$1,466$2,039$2,298
29 Lake County $1,017
$1,024
$1,343$1,714$2,106
30 Mineral County $1,017
$1,024
$1,343$1,714$2,106
31 Dolores County $855
$1,017
$1,115$1,423$1,748
32 Mesa County $881
$986
$1,249$1,737$2,095
33 Crowley County $976
$982
$1,289$1,546$2,021
34 Rio Grande County $839
$976
$1,094$1,312$1,715
35 Pueblo County $875
$967
$1,269$1,617$1,893
36 Fremont County $942
$948
$1,244$1,593$1,647
37 Montezuma County $852
$906
$1,180$1,569$1,850
38 Montrose County $884
$890
$1,168$1,624$1,959
39 Prowers County $746
$888
$973$1,249$1,542
40 Moffat County $881
$887
$1,164$1,396$1,614
41 Morgan County $878
$884
$1,160$1,606$1,824
42 Las Animas County $796
$880
$1,155$1,425$1,529
43 Hinsdale County $867
$873
$1,145$1,461$1,795
44 Kiowa County $868
$873
$1,146$1,463$1,797
45 Conejos County $746
$865
$973$1,332$1,336
46 Delta County $854
$865
$1,114$1,537$1,869
47 Custer County $853
$856
$1,112$1,333$1,743
48 Washington County $854
$856
$1,114$1,336$1,475
49 Logan County $769
$839
$1,101$1,452$1,458
50 Alamosa County $766
$833
$999$1,389$1,676
51 Kit Carson County $828
$833
$1,093$1,311$1,714
52 Huerfano County $698
$811
$1,013$1,215$1,588
53 Yuma County $803
$809
$1,061$1,361$1,405
54 Phillips County $798
$803
$1,054$1,345$1,652
55 Saguache County $748
$797
$975$1,295$1,529
56 Cheyenne County $790
$796
$1,044$1,343$1,637
57 Bent County $772
$777
$1,019$1,417$1,598
58 Lincoln County $769
$774
$1,016$1,413$1,593
59 Baca County $746
$771
$973$1,353$1,525
60 Rio Blanco County $764
$769
$1,009$1,285$1,582
61 Sedgwick County $746
$759
$973$1,167$1,525
62 Jackson County $749
$754
$989$1,262$1,551
63 Costilla County $737
$742
$973$1,353$1,525
64 Otero County $737
$742
$973$1,303$1,632

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Colorado? ▼
The average FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Colorado is $1,161 per month. A 2-bedroom averages $1,429.
How does Colorado rent compare to the national average? ▼
Colorado rents are 21% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here averages $1,161 vs $959 nationally.
Where is the cheapest rent in Colorado? ▼
The most affordable county is Costilla County with a 1-bedroom FMR of $742. The most expensive is Pitkin County at $2,020.
What income do I need to afford rent in Colorado? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need at least $46,440/year ($3,870/month) to afford the average 1-bedroom FMR in Colorado.

Explore Colorado rent data

Rent burden → Rent growth → Cheapest counties → Most expensive counties → National rent-burden rankings → Affordability calculator →

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

What this means for renters

Treat Colorado's FY2026 average Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a single market quote.

  • Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 average 1-bedroom FMR of $1,161 implies about $46,440/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
  • Colorado's counties vary widely around this average -- compare specific counties before assuming this figure applies to yours. View county rankings
  • See where Colorado ranks nationally on rent. National rankings

Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. This is a state-level average across 64 counties; actual asking rents in any specific county can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This site is informational and not financial or relocation advice.

Related

Browse all counties → | Rankings →
Data sourced from HUD Fair Market Rents and U.S. Census Bureau ACS data. See our methodology for details. Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rent data (huduser.gov). Median household income and homeownership rate: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (census.gov/programs-surveys/acs).

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.