FY2026 Fair Market Rents — San Diego-Carlsbad, CA MSA
The HUD-published Fair Market Rents for FY2026 in this area are:
Studio
$2,288
1BR
$2,459
2BR
$3,001
3BR
$3,998
4BR
$4,845
Hours/week at min wage
140 hrs
to afford the 2BR FMR @ $16.50/hr (CA)
National rank
#7
of 661 U.S. metros (top 2% most expensive)
YoY change (2BR)
+4.2%
+$120 vs FY2025 · 5-yr +41.3%
Voucher payment standard
$2,701–$3,301
PHAs set HCV payment at 90–110% of the 2BR FMR
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA MSA
Metropolitan area · CA · View full history · Income limits · LIHTC rents
FY2026 Fair Market Rents
| Bedroom Size | Monthly FMR | Annual Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (Studio) | $2,288 | $27,456 |
| 1-Bedroom | $2,459 | $29,508 |
| 2-Bedroom | $3,001 | $36,012 |
| 3-Bedroom | $3,998 | $47,976 |
| 4-Bedroom | $4,845 | $58,140 |
Recent 2-Bedroom FMR Trend
FY2020 $2,037 → FY2026 $3,001
| Fiscal Year | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | $2,288 | $2,459 | $3,001 | $3,998 | $4,845 |
| FY2025 | $2,145 | $2,328 | $2,881 | $3,852 | $4,690 |
| FY2024 | $2,062 | $2,248 | $2,833 | $3,819 | $4,638 |
| FY2023 | $1,714 | $1,885 | $2,399 | $3,279 | $3,988 |
| FY2022 | $1,573 | $1,739 | $2,232 | $3,099 | $3,795 |
| FY2021 | $1,478 | $1,642 | $2,124 | $2,987 | $3,677 |
| FY2020 | $1,404 | $1,566 | $2,037 | $2,894 | $3,576 |
View full FMR history back to FY2000 →
FY2026 Income Limits
Area Median Income (AMI): $130,900
| AMI Level | 1p | 2p | 3p | 4p | 5p | 6p |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30% AMI (Extremely Low) | $36,750 | $42,000 | $47,250 | $52,450 | $56,650 | $60,850 |
| 50% AMI (Very Low) | $61,250 | $70,000 | $78,750 | $87,450 | $94,450 | $101,450 |
| 80% AMI (Low) | $97,950 | $111,950 | $125,950 | $139,900 | $151,100 | $162,300 |
Full income limits table (all 8 household sizes) →
Affordability Snapshot
2BR Annual FMR
$36,012/yr
FMR as % of Area Median Income
27.5% of AMI
Under 30% — affordable at median income
Income Needed (30% rule, 2BR)
$120,040/yr
$10,003/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 | $1,145 | $1,309 | $1,472 | $1,767 | $1,898 |
| 60% AMI Maximum | $1,374 | $1,570 | $1,767 | $2,120 | $2,277 |
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 | $2,127 | $2,127 | $2,127 | $2,127 | $2,127 |
| Low HOME Rent | $1,531 | $1,750 | $1,968 | $2,186 | $2,361 |
Compare San Diego-Carlsbad, CA MSA With Other CA Metros
vs. Bakersfield, CA MSA
vs. Chico, CA MSA
vs. El Centro, CA MSA
vs. Fresno, CA MSA
vs. Hanford-Corcoran, CA MSA