U.S. Rent Rankings — FY2026
How metro areas rank on HUD Fair Market Rents and income limits. Based on official HUD data for fiscal year 2026.
Most Expensive Metros for Rent
U.S. metro areas with the highest HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents
Least Expensive Metros for Rent
U.S. metro areas with the lowest HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents
Biggest Rent Increases
Metro areas where the 2-bedroom FMR rose the most year-over-year
Highest Income Limits
Metro areas with the highest HUD Area Median Income
Top 10 Most Expensive Metros (2-Bedroom FMR)
| # | Metro Area | 2BR FMR |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA MSA | $4,214 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA HUD Metro FMR Area | $3,604 |
| 3 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA HUD Metro FMR Area | $3,483 |
| 4 | Napa, CA MSA | $3,315 |
| 5 | Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA HUD Metro FMR Area | $3,236 |
| 6 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA MSA | $3,124 |
| 7 | San Diego-Carlsbad, CA MSA | $3,001 |
| 8 | Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH HUD Metro FMR Area | $2,941 |
| 9 | Oakland-Fremont, CA HUD Metro FMR Area | $2,912 |
| 10 | New York, NY HUD Metro FMR Area | $2,910 |
How these rankings work
Rankings use HUD's published Fair Market Rents and income limits for fiscal year 2026. Rent rankings are based on the 2-bedroom FMR, the most widely-used reference point, and are limited to metropolitan areas. Year-over-year change compares FY2026 to FY2025.