Rents are 9% below what Fort Lauderdale'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 $2,697 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
Rent in Fort Lauderdale is 0% below its high of $2,697 in August 2026, at $2,697 as of September 2026.
Rent in Fort Lauderdale changed +2.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 270 Florida cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.8%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Fort Lauderdale rose 49.6% while median household income rose 39.8% ($59,450 to $83,130). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Fort Lauderdale is 51.3% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
30% of the median household income ($83,130) is $2,078 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,920); a 2-bedroom is $2,379.
The priciest of 9 ZIP codes in Fort Lauderdale, 33301 ($3,150/mo), costs 38% more than the cheapest, 33305 ($2,277/mo).
Wilton Manors, 2 miles away, rents for 20% less ($2,170/mo), about $6,300 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Fort Lauderdale. 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
Fort Lauderdale, FL is roughly split between renters and owners, 40.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Fort Lauderdale, FL has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Fort Lauderdale, FL paid around $1,937 a month. That figure now sits near $2,697, up 39.2% from the 2021 baseline. On the earnings side, the typical household in Fort Lauderdale, FL now reports about $83,130, up from $66,994 in 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Fort Lauderdale, FL adding about 3,357 residents over the five-year window, up 1.8% on net. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Fort Lauderdale, FL reflects that arc in its own way.
Discussions about Fort Lauderdale
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Can you afford rent in Fort Lauderdale on your salary?
At $2,697/mo, how Fort Lauderdale rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Fort Lauderdale rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Fort Lauderdale. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Fort Lauderdale
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Fort Lauderdale is $2,697/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,761/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,379/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,920/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,284/mo.
At 39% of local median household income ($83,130/yr), Fort Lauderdale ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Has rent outpaced income in Fort Lauderdale?
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Fort Lauderdale?
At $2,697/mo, rent takes ~39% of Fort Lauderdale's median household income ($83,130/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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