Rents are 15% below what Scottsdale's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,114 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
July. Asking rents in Scottsdale usually run 1% below trend in July and 0.7% above it in December, about $36 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Scottsdale is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Scottsdale changed +2.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 45 Arizona cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.6%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Scottsdale rose 41% while median household income rose 25.7% ($88,213 to $110,886). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Scottsdale is 37.3% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 10 months in a row, and rose in 11 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($110,886) is $2,772 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,512); a 3-bedroom is $3,380.
The priciest of 8 ZIP codes in Scottsdale, 85250 ($2,421/mo), costs 43% more than the cheapest, 85259 ($1,689/mo).
Phoenix, 13 miles away, rents for 26% less ($1,571/mo), about $6,500 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Scottsdale. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Scottsdale, AZ is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 61.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Scottsdale, AZ has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Scottsdale, AZ stood at $1,716 in 2021 and currently runs about $2,114, reflecting a 23.2% increase over the period. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $97,409 in 2021 to $110,886 more recently. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 2.2% since 2021, moving from about 238,685 residents to roughly 243,821. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Scottsdale, AZ market of 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Scottsdale on your salary?
At $2,114/mo, how Scottsdale rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Scottsdale rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Scottsdale. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Scottsdale
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Scottsdale is $2,114/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,972/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,512/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,163/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,380/mo.
At 23% of local median household income ($110,886/yr), Scottsdale ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Scottsdale rent compare to other cities in Arizona?
At $2,114/mo, rent takes ~23% of Scottsdale's median household income ($110,886/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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