FY2026 Fair Market Rents — El Centro, CA MSA
The HUD-published Fair Market Rents for FY2026 in this area are:
Studio
$939
1BR
$1,038
2BR
$1,362
3BR
$1,845
4BR
$2,285
Hours/week at min wage
64 hrs
to afford the 2BR FMR @ $16.50/hr (CA)
National rank
#248
of 661 U.S. metros (top 38% most expensive)
YoY change (2BR)
-0.7%
$9 vs FY2025 · 5-yr +28.5%
Voucher payment standard
$1,226–$1,498
PHAs set HCV payment at 90–110% of the 2BR FMR
El Centro, CA MSA
Metropolitan area · CA · View full history · Income limits · LIHTC rents
FY2026 Fair Market Rents
| Bedroom Size | Monthly FMR | Annual Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (Studio) | $939 | $11,268 |
| 1-Bedroom | $1,038 | $12,456 |
| 2-Bedroom | $1,362 | $16,344 |
| 3-Bedroom | $1,845 | $22,140 |
| 4-Bedroom | $2,285 | $27,420 |
Recent 2-Bedroom FMR Trend
FY2020 $1,027 → FY2026 $1,362
| Fiscal Year | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | $939 | $1,038 | $1,362 | $1,845 | $2,285 |
| FY2025 | $940 | $1,056 | $1,371 | $1,873 | $2,287 |
| FY2024 | $872 | $1,001 | $1,286 | $1,771 | $2,138 |
| FY2023 | $772 | $904 | $1,155 | $1,606 | $1,952 |
| FY2022 | $716 | $815 | $1,065 | $1,486 | $1,793 |
| FY2021 | $708 | $810 | $1,060 | $1,444 | $1,793 |
| FY2020 | $669 | $781 | $1,027 | $1,365 | $1,744 |
View full FMR history back to FY2000 →
FY2026 Income Limits
Area Median Income (AMI): $75,500
| AMI Level | 1p | 2p | 3p | 4p | 5p | 6p |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30% AMI (Extremely Low) | $20,450 | $23,350 | $27,320 | $33,000 | $38,680 | $44,360 |
| 50% AMI (Very Low) | $34,000 | $38,850 | $43,700 | $48,550 | $52,450 | $56,350 |
| 80% AMI (Low) | $54,400 | $62,200 | $69,950 | $77,700 | $83,950 | $90,150 |
Full income limits table (all 8 household sizes) →
Affordability Snapshot
2BR Annual FMR
$16,344/yr
FMR as % of Area Median Income
21.6% of AMI
Under 30% — affordable at median income
Income Needed (30% rule, 2BR)
$54,480/yr
$4,540/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 | $660 | $755 | $849 | $1,019 | $1,094 |
| 60% AMI Maximum | $792 | $906 | $1,019 | $1,223 | $1,313 |
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 | $939 | $1,038 | $1,226 | $1,226 | $1,226 |
| Low HOME Rent | $850 | $971 | $1,092 | $1,213 | $1,311 |
Compare El Centro, CA MSA With Other CA Metros
vs. Bakersfield, CA MSA
vs. Chico, CA MSA
vs. Fresno, CA MSA
vs. Hanford-Corcoran, CA MSA
vs. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA HUD Metro FMR Area