New Orleans-Metairie, LA Fair Market Rent (FY2026)
New Orleans-Metairie, LA HUD Metro FMR Area · LA · 6 counties · pop. 978,099 (2023)
The FY2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in New Orleans-Metairie, LA is $1,331/month. Across bedroom sizes the HUD FMR runs from $964 (studio) to $1,996 (4-bedroom). That 2-bedroom figure is $356 above the US national median FMR of $975 — well above the national median FMR — and ranks #65 of 75 among the largest metros (1 = most expensive). FMR is the federal voucher rent standard, not the market median.
Source: HUD USER, FY2026 Fair Market Rents (40th percentile, revised final). Data as of June 2026.
New Orleans-Metairie, LA FMR by bedroom size
| Unit size | Monthly FMR | ≈ Weekly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / efficiency | $964 | $223 | $11,568 |
| 1-bedroom | $1,113 | $257 | $13,356 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,331 | $307 | $15,972 |
| 3-bedroom | $1,701 | $393 | $20,412 |
| 4-bedroom | $1,996 | $461 | $23,952 |
Source: HUD USER, FY2026 Fair Market Rents (40th percentile, revised final). Data as of June 2026.
Weekly and annual figures are simple conversions of the monthly FMR (÷4.33 and ×12). The monthly FMR is HUD's published value. Verify on huduser.gov.
What this FMR means
Fair Market Rent is HUD's estimate of the 40th-percentile gross rent — contract rent plus tenant-paid utilities — for a modest, non-luxury unit in New Orleans-Metairie, LA. It is recalculated each fiscal year from American Community Survey rent data and a current-year inflation factor. Public housing agencies use the FMR to set Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) payment standards, typically 90–110% of the FMR. A higher FMR means the program will cover a higher rent in this area; it does not mean landlords charge exactly this much.
New Orleans-Metairie, LA vs its state and the US
| Benchmark | 2-bedroom FMR |
|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $1,331 |
| Louisiana state median | $866 |
| US national median | $975 |
New Orleans-Metairie, LA sits in Louisiana, where the median area's 2-bedroom FMR is $866 and areas range from $834 to $1,331.
Metro areas with a similar FMR
The five areas closest to New Orleans-Metairie, LA on the 2-bedroom FMR scale:
| Metro area | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA (this area) | $964 | $1,113 | $1,331 | $1,701 | $1,996 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $1,027 | $1,119 | $1,338 | $1,648 | $1,784 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $1,105 | $1,139 | $1,343 | $1,640 | $1,869 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $958 | $1,051 | $1,353 | $1,785 | $1,976 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $1,095 | $1,197 | $1,358 | $1,769 | $2,103 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $1,001 | $1,077 | $1,299 | $1,661 | $1,789 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the FY2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
The FY2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA HUD Metro FMR Area is $1,331 per month. FMR is the 40th-percentile gross rent (including utilities) HUD uses to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards — it is not the local market median. Verify the current figure at huduser.gov.
What are the FMRs for other bedroom sizes in New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
In FY2026 the FMRs are $964 (studio), $1,113 (1-bedroom), $1,331 (2-bedroom), $1,701 (3-bedroom) and $1,996 (4-bedroom) per month. Larger units have higher FMRs because they assume more bedrooms and occupants.
Is rent in New Orleans-Metairie, LA high compared with the rest of the US?
Its 2-bedroom FMR of $1,331 is $356 above the national median FMR of $975 (+37%) — well above the national median FMR. Among the 75 largest metros it ranks #65 of 75 by 2-bedroom FMR (1 = most expensive).
Does the FMR mean my voucher will cover that much rent?
Not exactly. The local public housing agency (PHA) sets a "payment standard" usually between 90% and 110% of the FMR, and your subsidy is based on that standard minus roughly 30% of your adjusted income. The FMR is the benchmark, not a guaranteed amount — check with the PHA that serves New Orleans-Metairie, LA.
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Source & accuracy
FY2026 Fair Market Rents, U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development — HUD USER (public domain). FMR is the federal voucher rent standard, not the market median. Figures are a June 2026 snapshot of HUD's revised final FY2026 file; verify the current value on huduser.gov before relying on it.
Last updated: 2026-06-20