Rents are 13% below what Lakeland'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 $1,687 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
January. Asking rents in Lakeland usually run 0.8% below trend in January and 0.7% above it in August, about $25 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Lakeland is 0.1% below its high of $1,689 in August 2026, at $1,687 as of September 2026.
Rent in Lakeland changed +1.4% 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 Lakeland rose 49.5% while median household income rose 35.1% ($47,511 to $64,185). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Lakeland is 47.7% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($64,185) is $1,605 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,433); a 3-bedroom is $1,928.
The priciest of 9 ZIP codes in Lakeland, 33811 ($2,125/mo), costs 1.5 times the cheapest, 33801 ($1,459/mo).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Lakeland. 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
Lakeland, FL is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income below the national average, 29.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Lakeland, FL has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2021, rent in Lakeland, FL has increased by $415 per month, settling near $1,687 after starting the period at $1,272. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $52,972 in 2021 to $64,185 more recently. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 11.4 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 110,401 to 119,961 between 2021 and 2024, a 8.7% change. About 43.6% of households rent today, against 45.3% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 26.9% to 29.4%. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Lakeland, FL market of 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Lakeland on your salary?
At $1,687/mo, how Lakeland rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Lakeland rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Lakeland. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Lakeland
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Lakeland is $1,687/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,163/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,433/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,171/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,928/mo.
At 32% of local median household income ($64,185/yr), Lakeland ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Lakeland rent compare to other cities in Florida?
At $1,687/mo, rent takes ~32% of Lakeland's median household income ($64,185/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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