Rent prices in Kentucky (FY2027)
The average FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Kentucky is $1,155 a month including utilities — 34% below the U.S. average, ranging from $909 to $1,442 by area. Find your metro below and check what you can afford.
Kentucky average Fair Market Rent, FY2027 (rent + utilities)
$1,155/mo 2 bedrooms · ▲ 4.5% vs FY2026
Studio
U.S. $1,379 · 38% below U.S.
$854
1 bedroom
U.S. $1,478 · 36% below U.S.
$946
2 bedrooms
U.S. $1,761 · 34% below U.S.
$1,155
3 bedrooms
U.S. $2,266 · 34% below U.S.
$1,500
4 bedrooms
U.S. $2,607 · 34% below U.S.
$1,708
Ranks #44 of 51 (50 states + DC) for 2-bedroom rent. See all states
Metro areas in Kentucky
Louisville, KY-IN
1.2M people · 1BR $1,058 · 3BR $1,629
Lexington-Fayette, KY
523K people · 1BR $1,205 · 3BR $1,948
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
2.2M people · 1BR $1,128 · 3BR $1,897
Bowling Green, KY
153K people · 1BR $1,020 · 3BR $1,438
Elizabethtown, KY
127K people · 1BR $866 · 3BR $1,505
Owensboro, KY
113K people · 1BR $870 · 3BR $1,507
Clarksville, TN-KY
321K people · 1BR $1,068 · 3BR $1,786
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH
271K people · 1BR $864 · 3BR $1,287
McCracken County, KY
68K people · 1BR $924 · 3BR $1,348
Shelby County, KY
49K people · 1BR $998 · 3BR $1,369
Nelson County, KY
48K people · 1BR $781 · 3BR $1,302
Meade County, KY
30K people · 1BR $804 · 3BR $1,443
Carter County, KY
26K people · 1BR $749 · 3BR $1,246
Grant County, KY
25K people · 1BR $899 · 3BR $1,365
Allen County, KY
21K people · 1BR $779 · 3BR $1,293
Lawrence County, KY
16K people · 1BR $799 · 3BR $1,157
Butler County, KY
12K people · 1BR $695 · 3BR $1,190
Livingston County, KY
9K people · 1BR $937 · 3BR $1,454
Ballard County, KY
8K people · 1BR $902 · 3BR $1,406
Carlisle County, KY
5K people · 1BR $798 · 3BR $1,272
2-bedroom FMR; arrow = change vs FY2026. Sorted by population in Kentucky. Tap a metro for studio to 4 bedrooms and the income you need.
Rural counties (non-metro)
Show all 81 non-metro counties (A–Z)
Adair County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $725 · 3BR $1,259 · 4BR $1,310
Anderson County, KY
Studio $801 · 1BR $1,020 · 3BR $1,377 · 4BR $1,566
Barren County, KY
Studio $696 · 1BR $700 · 3BR $1,171 · 4BR $1,331
Bath County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $695 · 3BR $1,124 · 4BR $1,320
Bell County, KY
Studio $633 · 1BR $787 · 3BR $1,133 · 4BR $1,352
Boyle County, KY
Studio $720 · 1BR $725 · 3BR $1,183 · 4BR $1,216
Breathitt County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $703 · 3BR $1,242 · 4BR $1,270
Breckinridge County, KY
Studio $695 · 1BR $720 · 3BR $1,259 · 4BR $1,329
Caldwell County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $695 · 3BR $1,083 · 4BR $1,270
Calloway County, KY
Studio $848 · 1BR $883 · 3BR $1,376 · 4BR $1,518
Carroll County, KY
Studio $766 · 1BR $819 · 3BR $1,277 · 4BR $1,409
Casey County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $835 · 3BR $1,083 · 4BR $1,195
Clay County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $835 · 3BR $1,254 · 4BR $1,270
Clinton County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $695 · 3BR $1,083 · 4BR $1,270
Crittenden County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $759 · 3BR $1,083 · 4BR $1,270
Cumberland County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $819 · 3BR $1,259 · 4BR $1,270
Elliott County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $725 · 3BR $1,259 · 4BR $1,270
Estill County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $835 · 3BR $1,150 · 4BR $1,383
Fleming County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $695 · 3BR $1,130 · 4BR $1,195
Floyd County, KY
Studio $661 · 1BR $707 · 3BR $1,230 · 4BR $1,246
Franklin County, KY
Studio $797 · 1BR $909 · 3BR $1,466 · 4BR $1,811
Fulton County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $695 · 3BR $1,259 · 4BR $1,308
Garrard County, KY
Studio $672 · 1BR $864 · 3BR $1,232 · 4BR $1,237
Graves County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $695 · 3BR $1,219 · 4BR $1,270
Grayson County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $779 · 3BR $1,259 · 4BR $1,270
Green County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $835 · 3BR $1,190 · 4BR $1,195
Hancock County, KY
Studio $693 · 1BR $784 · 3BR $1,276 · 4BR $1,344
Harlan County, KY
Studio $691 · 1BR $749 · 3BR $1,190 · 4BR $1,195
Harrison County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $725 · 3BR $1,259 · 4BR $1,389
Hart County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $796 · 3BR $1,127 · 4BR $1,262
Henderson County, KY
Studio $787 · 1BR $792 · 3BR $1,222 · 4BR $1,366
Hickman County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $695 · 3BR $1,190 · 4BR $1,195
Hopkins County, KY
Studio $701 · 1BR $733 · 3BR $1,249 · 4BR $1,405
Jackson County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $695 · 3BR $1,190 · 4BR $1,195
Johnson County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $788 · 3BR $1,186 · 4BR $1,308
Knott County, KY
Studio $702 · 1BR $784 · 3BR $1,171 · 4BR $1,374
Knox County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $835 · 3BR $1,179 · 4BR $1,519
Laurel County, KY
Studio $674 · 1BR $749 · 3BR $1,124 · 4BR $1,315
Lee County, KY
Studio $712 · 1BR $794 · 3BR $1,187 · 4BR $1,392
Leslie County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $774 · 3BR $1,183 · 4BR $1,270
Letcher County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $751 · 3BR $1,094 · 4BR $1,328
Lewis County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $695 · 3BR $1,156 · 4BR $1,270
Lincoln County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $793 · 3BR $1,083 · 4BR $1,331
Logan County, KY
Studio $652 · 1BR $698 · 3BR $1,180 · 4BR $1,276
Lyon County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $695 · 3BR $1,259 · 4BR $1,308
Madison County, KY
Studio $691 · 1BR $859 · 3BR $1,375 · 4BR $1,600
Magoffin County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $835 · 3BR $1,083 · 4BR $1,270
Marion County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $736 · 3BR $1,139 · 4BR $1,482
Marshall County, KY
Studio $656 · 1BR $824 · 3BR $1,266 · 4BR $1,283
Martin County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $725 · 3BR $1,133 · 4BR $1,270
Mason County, KY
Studio $715 · 1BR $797 · 3BR $1,196 · 4BR $1,477
McCreary County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $835 · 3BR $1,147 · 4BR $1,270
Menifee County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $725 · 3BR $1,162 · 4BR $1,270
Mercer County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $725 · 3BR $1,259 · 4BR $1,519
Metcalfe County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $835 · 3BR $1,191 · 4BR $1,270
Monroe County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $695 · 3BR $1,259 · 4BR $1,314
Montgomery County, KY
Studio $717 · 1BR $767 · 3BR $1,314 · 4BR $1,320
Morgan County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $739 · 3BR $1,256 · 4BR $1,503
Muhlenberg County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $695 · 3BR $1,083 · 4BR $1,220
Nicholas County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $819 · 3BR $1,259 · 4BR $1,270
Ohio County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $695 · 3BR $1,178 · 4BR $1,415
Owen County, KY
Studio $730 · 1BR $781 · 3BR $1,396 · 4BR $1,428
Owsley County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $725 · 3BR $1,099 · 4BR $1,270
Perry County, KY
Studio $722 · 1BR $772 · 3BR $1,203 · 4BR $1,327
Pike County, KY
Studio $763 · 1BR $837 · 3BR $1,305 · 4BR $1,812
Powell County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $695 · 3BR $1,259 · 4BR $1,519
Pulaski County, KY
Studio $660 · 1BR $706 · 3BR $1,101 · 4BR $1,308
Robertson County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $695 · 3BR $1,133 · 4BR $1,270
Rockcastle County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $810 · 3BR $1,174 · 4BR $1,270
Rowan County, KY
Studio $701 · 1BR $791 · 3BR $1,252 · 4BR $1,633
Russell County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $695 · 3BR $1,115 · 4BR $1,311
Simpson County, KY
Studio $802 · 1BR $984 · 3BR $1,491 · 4BR $1,568
Taylor County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $835 · 3BR $1,259 · 4BR $1,270
Todd County, KY
Studio $753 · 1BR $806 · 3BR $1,256 · 4BR $1,466
Trimble County, KY
Studio $840 · 1BR $898 · 3BR $1,407 · 4BR $1,642
Union County, KY
Studio $716 · 1BR $742 · 3BR $1,157 · 4BR $1,320
Washington County, KY
Studio $671 · 1BR $718 · 3BR $1,300 · 4BR $1,343
Wayne County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $834 · 3BR $1,259 · 4BR $1,519
Webster County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $695 · 3BR $1,241 · 4BR $1,270
Whitley County, KY
Studio $690 · 1BR $695 · 3BR $1,129 · 4BR $1,298
Wolfe County, KY
Studio $650 · 1BR $774 · 3BR $1,133 · 4BR $1,270
Big number = 2-bedroom FMR. HUD sets a floor: no 2-bedroom FMR may be below the lower of the state’s or the national non-metro median ($1,014 for FY2027).
Rent affordability check
Income needed at the Kentucky average
Studio
$854/mo rent + utilities
$34,160/yr
$16.42/hr full-time
1 bedroom
$946/mo rent + utilities
$37,840/yr
$18.19/hr full-time
2 bedrooms
$1,155/mo rent + utilities
$46,200/yr
$22.21/hr full-time
3 bedrooms
$1,500/mo rent + utilities
$60,000/yr
$28.85/hr full-time
4 bedrooms
$1,708/mo rent + utilities
$68,320/yr
$32.85/hr full-time
Gross yearly income so that rent plus utilities is 30% of income; hourly = yearly ÷ 2,080 hours.
What a Fair Market Rent is (and is not)
A Fair Market Rent (FMR) is set every year by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). It is HUD’s estimate of the 40th-percentile gross rent — rent plus utilities (except phone, cable and internet) — paid by recent movers into standard-quality, non-luxury rental homes in an area. In other words, about 40% of recently rented units in the area cost less than the FMR and about 60% cost more.
FMRs are not asking rents and not the price of any specific listing. They are built from Census Bureau American Community Survey rents and updated with inflation and trend factors, so they lag the newest listings and smooth out neighborhood differences. HUD uses them to set Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) payment standards and other program rents. Treat them as a solid, official benchmark for a typical modest rental — new listings in popular neighborhoods often cost more.
Questions & answers
What is the average rent in Kentucky?
Using HUD’s FY2027 Fair Market Rents, the population-weighted average for a 2-bedroom in Kentucky is $1,155 a month including utilities — 34% below the U.S. average of $1,761. A 1-bedroom averages $946 and a studio $854.
Where is rent cheapest in Kentucky?
The lowest FY2027 2-bedroom FMR in Kentucky is $909 in Adair County, KY; the highest is $1,442 in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN.
How much do I need to earn to rent in Kentucky?
At the 30% rule, a 2-bedroom at the state-average FMR of $1,155 needs $46,200 a year in gross income (about $22.21 an hour full-time). A 1-bedroom at $946 needs $37,840.
Did rent go up in Kentucky this year?
The population-weighted 2-bedroom FMR in Kentucky changed +4.5% from FY2026 to FY2027, compared with +1.5% for the U.S.
Is the Fair Market Rent what landlords charge?
Not exactly. It is HUD’s 40th-percentile estimate of rent plus utilities paid by recent movers into standard-quality units — a benchmark for a modest rental. Many listings, especially new or central ones, ask more.
Source: HUD User, FY2027 Fair Market Rents (effective October 1, 2026; Federal Register notice), compared with FY2026 revised FMRs. HUD data is in the public domain. State and U.S. averages are Tachlis calculations weighted by each county’s population as listed in HUD’s file. HUD may revise FMRs for areas that request a reevaluation.
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