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What’s the average rent in Cincinnati, OH?

Each year, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) estimates something called Fair Market Rent (FMR) for every region in the country, including Cincinnati. These numbers represent the estimated cost of rent plus basic utilities (like water, heat, and gas) for standard-quality rental housing.


Fair Market Rent is not the maximum or average price exactly. It’s meant to reflect the 40th percentile of rents in the area, meaning 40% of units in Cincinnati should rent at or below this amount.

The table below shows average monthly rents for apartments across all ZIP codes in the City of Cincinnati. These averages reflect units across efficiency, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, three-bedroom and four-bedroom apartments over the past five years.

Year

Efficiency

One-Bedroom

Two-Bedroom

Three-Bedroom

Four-Bedroom

2022

$643.00

$742.00

$968.00

$1,302.00

$1,483.00

2023

$731.00

$839.00

$1,093.00

$1,464.00

$1,645.00

2024

$810.00

$919.00

$1,195.00

$1,588.00

$1,766.00

2025

$877.84

$985.62

$1,277.95

$1,692.11

$1,875.46

2026*

$943.15

$1,033.75

$1,328.80

$1,750.00

$1,941.74

*2026 values are projected/estimated based on current trends.


Cincinnati Rent Trends: What’s Changing?

Rents in Cincinnati have steadily increased over this five-year span across all unit types.

  • Efficiency units increased from about $643 in 2022 to about $943 in 2026 — a rise of roughly 47%.

  • One-bedroom units rose from about $742 to about $1,034 — an increase around 39%.

  • Two-bedroom units climbed from about $968 to about $1,329 — about a 37% jump.

  • Three-bedroom units went from about $1,302 to about $1,750 — roughly a 34% increase.

  • Four-bedroom units moved from about $1,483 to about $1,942 — approximately a 31% rise.

In short: renters in Cincinnati are paying significantly more today than they were just a few years ago across all apartment sizes.

How Much Do You Need to Earn to Afford Rent in Cincinnati?

Housing experts often refer to the “30% rule” — that a household should spend no more than 30% of gross monthly income on rent. Staying above that threshold may make it harder to cover other essentials like food, transportation, healthcare or savings.

Using the latest average rents:

  • For a one-bedroom at roughly $1,034/month, you’d need to earn at least ~$3,450 per month (or ~$41,400 per year) to keep rent at or below 30% of income.

  • For a two-bedroom at ~$1,329/month, that threshold rises to about $4,430/month (or ~$53,200 annually).

  • For a three-bedroom at ~$1,750/month, you’d need an income around $5,830/month (or ~$69,900/year).

  • For a four-bedroom at ~$1,942/month, the required income is about $6,470/month (or ~$77,600/year).

If your gross household income falls below these amounts, you may want to:

  • Explore income-restricted or subsidized housing options.

  • Consider shared housing or roommates to reduce costs.

  • Check for listings and programs specifically tailored to moderate-income renters.

Affordable Housing and Rent Support in Cincinnati

Affordable housing refers to rental units priced so that tenants spend no more than 30% of gross income (including utilities) on housing. Many of these units are made available through:

  • Income-restricted properties (units reserved for households earning below a defined percentage of the area's median income).

  • Government-supported programs such as the Housing Choice Voucher program (commonly known as Section 8).

If you’re earning less than certain thresholds (for example 60% of Area Median Income, or AMI), you may qualify for subsidized units or special rental programs. You can learn more about how AMI impacts eligibility - and see where you fall - by using our Cincinnati Affordable Housing Eligibility tool.