Rents are 5% below what Boulder'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 $2,435 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
November. Asking rents in Boulder usually run 0.7% below trend in November and 0.6% above it in July, about $32 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Boulder is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Boulder changed +3.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 60 Colorado cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.4%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Boulder rose 31.1% while median household income rose 25.9% ($69,520 to $87,493). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Boulder is 34.5% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($87,493) is $2,187 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,818); a 2-bedroom is $2,202.
The priciest of 5 ZIP codes in Boulder, 80302 ($2,997/mo), costs 29% more than the cheapest, 80303 ($2,332/mo).
Broomfield, 13 miles away, rents for 13% less ($2,115/mo), about $3,800 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Boulder. 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
Boulder, CO is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, 76.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Boulder, CO has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in Boulder, CO has shifted from $1,896 to $2,435, up 28.4% since 2021. Household income in the area moved from $74,902 to $87,493 across the same window, up 16.8% versus 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Boulder, CO adding about 1,503 residents over the five-year window, up 1.4% on net. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Boulder, CO look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in Boulder on your salary?
At $2,435/mo, how Boulder rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Boulder rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Boulder. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Boulder
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Boulder is $2,435/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,566/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,202/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,818/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,892/mo.
At 33% of local median household income ($87,493/yr), Boulder ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Boulder rent compare to other cities in Colorado?
At $2,435/mo, rent takes ~33% of Boulder's median household income ($87,493/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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