St. Louis, MO-IL Fair Market Rent (FY2026)
St. Louis, MO-IL HUD Metro FMR Area · MO, IL · 14 counties · pop. 2,752,711 (2023)
The FY2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in St. Louis, MO-IL is $1,218/month. Across bedroom sizes the HUD FMR runs from $955 (studio) to $1,812 (4-bedroom). That 2-bedroom figure is $243 above the US national median FMR of $975 — above the national median FMR — and ranks #72 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.
St. Louis, MO-IL FMR by bedroom size
| Unit size | Monthly FMR | ≈ Weekly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / efficiency | $955 | $221 | $11,460 |
| 1-bedroom | $995 | $230 | $11,940 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,218 | $281 | $14,616 |
| 3-bedroom | $1,568 | $362 | $18,816 |
| 4-bedroom | $1,812 | $418 | $21,744 |
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 St. Louis, MO-IL. 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.
St. Louis, MO-IL vs its state and the US
| Benchmark | 2-bedroom FMR |
|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $1,218 |
| Missouri state median | $888 |
| US national median | $975 |
St. Louis, MO-IL sits in Missouri, where the median area's 2-bedroom FMR is $888 and areas range from $888 to $1,358.
Metro areas with a similar FMR
The five areas closest to St. Louis, MO-IL on the 2-bedroom FMR scale:
| Metro area | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL (this area) | $955 | $995 | $1,218 | $1,568 | $1,812 |
| Tulsa, OK | $933 | $987 | $1,217 | $1,602 | $1,858 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $939 | $1,017 | $1,244 | $1,675 | $1,857 |
| El Paso, TX | $821 | $1,013 | $1,191 | $1,633 | $1,998 |
| Birmingham-Hoover, AL | $1,024 | $1,155 | $1,266 | $1,583 | $1,801 |
| Louisville, KY-IN | $966 | $1,047 | $1,272 | $1,625 | $1,891 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the FY2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in St. Louis, MO-IL?
The FY2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in the St. Louis, MO-IL HUD Metro FMR Area is $1,218 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 St. Louis, MO-IL?
In FY2026 the FMRs are $955 (studio), $995 (1-bedroom), $1,218 (2-bedroom), $1,568 (3-bedroom) and $1,812 (4-bedroom) per month. Larger units have higher FMRs because they assume more bedrooms and occupants.
Is rent in St. Louis, MO-IL high compared with the rest of the US?
Its 2-bedroom FMR of $1,218 is $243 above the national median FMR of $975 (+25%) — above the national median FMR. Among the 75 largest metros it ranks #72 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 St. Louis, MO-IL.
Keep exploring
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