FY2026 Fair Market Rents — Columbia, SC HUD Metro FMR Area
The HUD-published Fair Market Rents for FY2026 in this area are:
Studio
$1,032
1BR
$1,164
2BR
$1,276
3BR
$1,623
4BR
$1,911
Hours/week at min wage
136 hrs
to afford the 2BR FMR @ $7.25/hr (federal)
National rank
#298
of 661 U.S. metros (top 46% most expensive)
YoY change (2BR)
-1.7%
$22 vs FY2025 · 5-yr +32.5%
Voucher payment standard
$1,148–$1,404
PHAs set HCV payment at 90–110% of the 2BR FMR
Columbia, SC HUD Metro FMR Area
Metropolitan area · SC · View full history · Income limits · LIHTC rents
FY2026 Fair Market Rents
| Bedroom Size | Monthly FMR | Annual Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (Studio) | $1,032 | $12,384 |
| 1-Bedroom | $1,164 | $13,968 |
| 2-Bedroom | $1,276 | $15,312 |
| 3-Bedroom | $1,623 | $19,476 |
| 4-Bedroom | $1,911 | $22,932 |
Recent 2-Bedroom FMR Trend
FY2020 $931 → FY2026 $1,276
| Fiscal Year | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | $1,032 | $1,164 | $1,276 | $1,623 | $1,911 |
| FY2025 | $1,063 | $1,172 | $1,298 | $1,656 | $1,991 |
| FY2024 | $1,036 | $1,110 | $1,246 | $1,595 | $1,917 |
| FY2023 | $944 | $996 | $1,125 | $1,442 | $1,724 |
| FY2022 | $834 | $869 | $990 | $1,268 | $1,531 |
| FY2021 | $782 | $845 | $963 | $1,236 | $1,527 |
| FY2020 | $706 | $818 | $931 | $1,204 | $1,491 |
View full FMR history back to FY2000 →
FY2026 Income Limits
Area Median Income (AMI): $92,400
| AMI Level | 1p | 2p | 3p | 4p | 5p | 6p |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30% AMI (Extremely Low) | $19,400 | $22,200 | $27,320 | $33,000 | $38,680 | $44,360 |
| 50% AMI (Very Low) | $32,350 | $37,000 | $41,600 | $46,200 | $49,900 | $53,600 |
| 80% AMI (Low) | $51,750 | $59,150 | $66,550 | $73,900 | $79,850 | $85,750 |
Full income limits table (all 8 household sizes) →
Affordability Snapshot
2BR Annual FMR
$15,312/yr
FMR as % of Area Median Income
16.6% of AMI
Under 30% — affordable at median income
Income Needed (30% rule, 2BR)
$51,040/yr
$4,253/mo gross income
FY2026 LIHTC Maximum Rents
Maximum gross rents for Low-Income Housing Tax Credit units, by income band. Full LIHTC details →
| AMI Band | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50% AMI Maximum | $808 | $924 | $1,039 | $1,247 | $1,339 |
| 60% AMI Maximum | $970 | $1,108 | $1,247 | $1,496 | $1,607 |
FY2026 HOME Program Rent Limits
Maximum rents for HOME Investment Partnerships–funded units. High HOME rents apply to most assisted units; Low HOME rents apply to the lowest-income set-aside units. Full HOME rent details →
| Limit Type | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High HOME Rent | $1,032 | $1,164 | $1,276 | $1,501 | $1,501 |
| Low HOME Rent | $808 | $925 | $1,040 | $1,155 | $1,247 |
Compare Columbia, SC HUD Metro FMR Area With Other SC Metros
vs. Anderson, SC HUD Metro FMR Area
vs. Beaufort County, SC HUD Metro FMR Area
vs. Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA
vs. Chester County, SC HUD Metro FMR Area
vs. Clarendon County, SC HUD Metro FMR Area