State FMR profile · HUD FY2026

Fair Market Rents in Missouri

The average 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent across Missouri is $777/mo - 19% below the US average.

$777
Avg 1BR FMR
116
Counties
6
Metro areas

The verdict

Missouri's 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent averages $972 - 17% below the US average, the 7th lowest of 51 states.

Missouri's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom averages $972, 17% below the US average - the 7th lowest of 51 states. A household needs about $38,880 in annual income to afford it under HUD's 30% affordability rule, and rents vary 77% between the state's cheapest and priciest counties.

#7
most affordable of 51 states (2BR)
-17%
vs the US 2-bedroom average
$38,880
income to afford it (30% rule)
77%
gap, cheapest→priciest county

Missouri ranks 45th priciest but 18th of 51 by rent GROWTH (+5.7% YoY) - a comparatively affordable state getting notably more expensive, worth watching.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents for 116 counties and 6 metro areas in MO. Verify with HUD →

What these rents mean for Missouri

Across Missouri's 116 counties and 6 metro areas, HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent averages $777/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 MO, 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, Missouri's average 1-bedroom FMR of $777 is 19% below the US average of $959. Inside the state, rents are not uniform - the cheapest 1-bedroom FMR is in Atchison County at $677, while the most expensive is in Ray County at $1,197, a spread of roughly 77% 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 $31,080 per year (about $2,590/month) to afford Missouri's average 1-bedroom at $777. With a state population of 6,168,181 and median household income of $68,920, a significant share of Missouri renters fall above the 30% cost-burden threshold in higher-FMR counties. Pair these rent figures with Missouri's rent burden rankings and year-over-year rent growth pages to see which counties are tightening fastest and which remain comparatively affordable.

Where Missouri sits among all 50 states + DC

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

$972 higher than 12% of 51 states

$900–$1,000: 11 states (22%). This entry sits in this band. $1,000–$1,100: 7 states (14%). Above this entry. $1,100–$1,200: 8 states (16%). Above this entry. $1,200–$1,300: 2 states (4%). Above this entry. $1,300–$1,400: 3 states (6%). Above this entry. $1,400–$1,500: 8 states (16%). Above this entry. $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. MO $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
$734
-18% vs US avg
1 BR
$777
-19% vs US avg
2 BR
$972
-17% vs US avg
3 BR
$1,268
-17% vs US avg
4 BR
$1,460
-17% vs US avg

Most expensive counties in Missouri by 1-bedroom FMR

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent, the highest-cost 10 of 116 MO counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Inside MO, 1-bedroom FMR runs from $677 in Atchison County to $1,197 in Ray 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 Missouri

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 Kansas City, MO-KS HUD Metro FMR Area $1,095
$1,197
$1,358$1,769$2,103
2 Columbia, MO HUD Metro FMR Area $800
$1,011
$1,160$1,573$1,861
3 Springfield, MO HUD Metro FMR Area $877
$883
$1,095$1,498$1,701
4 St. Joseph, MO-KS MSA $774
$832
$1,077$1,363$1,566
5 Cape Girardeau, MO-IL MSA $763
$807
$992$1,380$1,664
6 Callaway County, MO HUD Metro FMR Area $789
$794
$1,042$1,249$1,472

Counties in Missouri, ranked by rent (116)

All 116 counties with a published FY2026 Fair Market Rent, highest 1-bedroom first.

116 of 116
# County Studio1 BR2 BR3 BR4 BR
1 Caldwell County $1,095
$1,197
$1,358$1,769$2,103
2 Cass County $1,095
$1,197
$1,358$1,769$2,103
3 Clay County $1,095
$1,197
$1,358$1,769$2,103
4 Clinton County $1,095
$1,197
$1,358$1,769$2,103
5 Jackson County $1,095
$1,197
$1,358$1,769$2,103
6 Lafayette County $1,095
$1,197
$1,358$1,769$2,103
7 Platte County $1,095
$1,197
$1,358$1,769$2,103
8 Ray County $1,095
$1,197
$1,358$1,769$2,103
9 Boone County $800
$1,011
$1,160$1,573$1,861
10 Franklin County $955
$995
$1,218$1,568$1,812
11 Jefferson County $955
$995
$1,218$1,568$1,812
12 Lincoln County $955
$995
$1,218$1,568$1,812
13 St. Charles County $955
$995
$1,218$1,568$1,812
14 St. Louis County $955
$995
$1,218$1,568$1,812
15 St. Louis city $955
$995
$1,218$1,568$1,812
16 Sullivan part $955
$995
$1,218$1,568$1,812
17 Warren County $955
$995
$1,218$1,568$1,812
18 Christian County $877
$883
$1,095$1,498$1,701
19 Greene County $877
$883
$1,095$1,498$1,701
20 Webster County $877
$883
$1,095$1,498$1,701
21 Perry County $707
$868
$952$1,260$1,265
22 Andrew County $774
$832
$1,077$1,363$1,566
23 Buchanan County $774
$832
$1,077$1,363$1,566
24 DeKalb County $774
$832
$1,077$1,363$1,566
25 Miller County $667
$819
$898$1,088$1,416
26 Johnson County $810
$815
$965$1,342$1,619
27 Iron County $660
$810
$888$1,084$1,371
28 Wayne County $660
$810
$888$1,065$1,490
29 Pulaski County $789
$809
$1,062$1,477$1,699
30 Sullivan County $660
$809
$888$1,110$1,320
31 Bollinger County $763
$807
$992$1,380$1,664
32 Cape Girardeau County $763
$807
$992$1,380$1,664
33 Hickory County $660
$796
$888$1,235$1,320
34 Howard County $720
$796
$1,044$1,252$1,382
35 Callaway County $789
$794
$1,042$1,249$1,472
36 Maries County $660
$790
$888$1,202$1,320
37 Taney County $779
$784
$1,029$1,329$1,522
38 Washington County $660
$774
$888$1,065$1,276
39 Ste. Genevieve County $685
$767
$922$1,105$1,547
40 Jasper County $760
$765
$947$1,237$1,285
41 Newton County $760
$765
$947$1,237$1,285
42 Morgan County $660
$745
$888$1,171$1,176
43 Pettis County $740
$745
$978$1,268$1,411
44 Phelps County $730
$742
$933$1,231$1,235
45 Barton County $660
$734
$888$1,235$1,273
46 Polk County $729
$733
$888$1,235$1,490
47 Dallas County $727
$732
$888$1,235$1,490
48 Ripley County $660
$731
$888$1,141$1,420
49 Cooper County $668
$730
$958$1,182$1,497
50 Crawford County $612
$729
$888$1,235$1,375
51 Dade County $660
$729
$888$1,209$1,490
52 Marion County $707
$729
$952$1,256$1,260
53 Nodaway County $714
$718
$906$1,160$1,520
54 Camden County $697
$716
$939$1,306$1,375
55 Macon County $645
$713
$936$1,212$1,324
56 Madison County $695
$713
$935$1,133$1,390
57 Pemiscot County $660
$713
$888$1,171$1,176
58 Scott County $691
$709
$930$1,145$1,231
59 Adair County $706
$708
$888$1,235$1,490
60 Benton County $690
$708
$929$1,194$1,453
61 Bates County $702
$706
$927$1,232$1,555
62 Scotland County $660
$705
$888$1,235$1,490
63 Moniteau County $698
$703
$922$1,260$1,413
64 Shelby County $660
$703
$888$1,189$1,429
65 Stone County $649
$703
$923$1,284$1,548
66 Vernon County $686
$703
$923$1,160$1,373
67 Pike County $682
$700
$918$1,101$1,215
68 Putnam County $660
$698
$888$1,065$1,320
69 Cole County $689
$694
$910$1,266$1,379
70 Osage County $689
$694
$910$1,266$1,379
71 Texas County $612
$694
$888$1,192$1,490
72 Randolph County $660
$693
$888$1,235$1,384
73 Gentry County $660
$691
$888$1,235$1,490
74 Audrain County $660
$690
$888$1,141$1,239
75 St. Francois County $684
$689
$904$1,169$1,197
76 Laclede County $671
$688
$903$1,182$1,482
77 Butler County $660
$682
$895$1,194$1,199
78 Dent County $663
$680
$892$1,070$1,326
79 New Madrid County $661
$678
$890$1,067$1,178
80 Atchison County $660
$677
$888$1,065$1,333
81 Barry County $672
$677
$888$1,235$1,311
82 Carroll County $660
$677
$888$1,157$1,336
83 Carter County $660
$677
$888$1,065$1,320
84 Cedar County $660
$677
$888$1,214$1,320
85 Chariton County $660
$677
$888$1,235$1,320
86 Clark County $660
$677
$888$1,154$1,320
87 Daviess County $660
$677
$888$1,138$1,294
88 Douglas County $660
$677
$888$1,065$1,320
89 Dunklin County $660
$677
$888$1,228$1,416
90 Gasconade County $660
$677
$888$1,192$1,197
91 Grundy County $660
$677
$888$1,171$1,353
92 Harrison County $660
$677
$888$1,160$1,176
93 Henry County $652
$677
$888$1,171$1,176
94 Holt County $660
$677
$888$1,111$1,373
95 Howell County $612
$677
$888$1,224$1,490
96 Knox County $660
$677
$888$1,086$1,320
97 Lawrence County $660
$677
$888$1,169$1,337
98 Lewis County $612
$677
$888$1,171$1,176
99 Linn County $660
$677
$888$1,065$1,176
100 Livingston County $660
$677
$888$1,147$1,331
101 McDonald County $672
$677
$888$1,235$1,490
102 Mercer County $660
$677
$888$1,235$1,320
103 Mississippi County $660
$677
$888$1,196$1,407
104 Monroe County $660
$677
$888$1,065$1,303
105 Montgomery County $672
$677
$888$1,226$1,336
106 Oregon County $660
$677
$888$1,235$1,349
107 Ozark County $660
$677
$888$1,065$1,176
108 Ralls County $660
$677
$888$1,128$1,490
109 Reynolds County $660
$677
$888$1,065$1,176
110 Saline County $660
$677
$888$1,153$1,176
111 Schuyler County $612
$677
$888$1,065$1,176
112 Shannon County $654
$677
$888$1,083$1,320
113 St. Clair County $612
$677
$888$1,065$1,320
114 Stoddard County $660
$677
$888$1,183$1,247
115 Worth County $660
$677
$888$1,160$1,320
116 Wright County $660
$677
$888$1,235$1,320

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Missouri? ▼
The average FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Missouri is $777 per month. A 2-bedroom averages $972.
How does Missouri rent compare to the national average? ▼
Missouri rents are 19% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here averages $777 vs $959 nationally.
Where is the cheapest rent in Missouri? ▼
The most affordable county is Atchison County with a 1-bedroom FMR of $677. The most expensive is Ray County at $1,197.
What income do I need to afford rent in Missouri? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need at least $31,080/year ($2,590/month) to afford the average 1-bedroom FMR in Missouri.

Explore Missouri 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 Missouri'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 $777 implies about $31,080/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
  • Missouri's counties vary widely around this average -- compare specific counties before assuming this figure applies to yours. View county rankings
  • See where Missouri 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 116 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.