Rents are 15% below what Sarasota'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 $2,210 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 Sarasota usually run 1% below trend in July and 1.2% above it in January, about $49 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Sarasota is 3.7% below its high of $2,295 in March 2023, at $2,210 as of September 2026.
Rent in Sarasota changed +1.1% 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 Sarasota rose 51.5% while median household income rose 34.4% ($53,669 to $72,105). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Sarasota is 45.1% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($72,105) is $1,803 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,787); a 2-bedroom is $2,087.
The priciest of 11 ZIP codes in Sarasota, 34236 ($2,817/mo), costs 1.5 times the cheapest, 34234 ($1,924/mo).
Bradenton, 10 miles away, rents for 20% less ($1,768/mo), about $5,300 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Sarasota. 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
Sarasota, FL is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 41.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Sarasota, FL has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Sarasota, FL paid around $1,686 a month. That figure now sits near $2,210, up 31.1% from the 2021 baseline. On the earnings side, the typical household in Sarasota, FL now reports about $72,105, up from $62,615 in 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Sarasota, FL adding about 3,184 residents over the five-year window, up 5.9% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 38.3% to 41.8% across the same window. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Sarasota, FL reflects that arc in its own way.
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Can you afford rent in Sarasota on your salary?
At $2,210/mo, how Sarasota rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Sarasota rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Sarasota. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Sarasota
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Sarasota is $2,210/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,431/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,087/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,787/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,742/mo.
At 37% of local median household income ($72,105/yr), Sarasota ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Sarasota rent compare to other cities in Florida?
At $2,210/mo, rent takes ~37% of Sarasota's median household income ($72,105/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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