Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Fair Market Rent (FY2026)
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL MSA · FL · 4 counties · pop. 3,194,310 (2023)
The FY2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL is $1,977/month. Across bedroom sizes the HUD FMR runs from $1,593 (studio) to $3,077 (4-bedroom). That 2-bedroom figure is $1,002 above the US national median FMR of $975 — far above the national median FMR — and ranks #25 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.
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL FMR by bedroom size
| Unit size | Monthly FMR | ≈ Weekly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / efficiency | $1,593 | $368 | $19,116 |
| 1-bedroom | $1,696 | $392 | $20,352 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,977 | $457 | $23,724 |
| 3-bedroom | $2,527 | $584 | $30,324 |
| 4-bedroom | $3,077 | $711 | $36,924 |
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 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL. 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.
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL vs its state and the US
| Benchmark | 2-bedroom FMR |
|---|---|
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $1,977 |
| Florida state median | $1,337 |
| US national median | $975 |
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL sits in Florida, where the median area's 2-bedroom FMR is $1,337 and areas range from $973 to $2,504.
Metro areas with a similar FMR
The five areas closest to Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL on the 2-bedroom FMR scale:
| Metro area | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL (this area) | $1,593 | $1,696 | $1,977 | $2,527 | $3,077 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $1,650 | $1,731 | $1,972 | $2,476 | $2,924 |
| Tacoma, WA | $1,428 | $1,605 | $1,971 | $2,733 | $3,102 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $1,418 | $1,686 | $1,958 | $2,537 | $3,027 |
| Dallas, TX | $1,582 | $1,648 | $1,931 | $2,431 | $3,091 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $1,570 | $1,677 | $1,922 | $2,619 | $3,109 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the FY2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL?
The FY2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL MSA is $1,977 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 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL?
In FY2026 the FMRs are $1,593 (studio), $1,696 (1-bedroom), $1,977 (2-bedroom), $2,527 (3-bedroom) and $3,077 (4-bedroom) per month. Larger units have higher FMRs because they assume more bedrooms and occupants.
Is rent in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL high compared with the rest of the US?
Its 2-bedroom FMR of $1,977 is $1,002 above the national median FMR of $975 (+103%) — far above the national median FMR. Among the 75 largest metros it ranks #25 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 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL.
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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