How much does it cost to rent in Champaign, IL?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Champaign, IL is $1,410. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Champaign cheaper than other Illinois cities?

Champaign is among the more affordable cities in Illinois, ranking #105 out of 142 cities at $1,410/mo.

When was Champaign rent data last updated?

Champaign rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · IL

Champaign

Name: Average Rent Prices in Champaign, IL
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 89,996·105th most expensive in Illinois·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$1,410/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.6%

Month-over-Month

+5.6%

vs US Median

-$555

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Champaign · $1,410

More affordable than 81% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

36/100

Overpriced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 7% above what Champaign's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.

Actual rent

$1,410/mo

Expected by trend

$1,315/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Champaign's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,033

1 BR

$1,040

2 BR

$1,233

3 BR

$1,607

4 BR+

$1,633

Research median

$1,233/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$16,920/yr

At $1,410/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 3.6% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.6% YoY, +5.6% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Champaign, IL is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 52.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

89,996

Median income

$56,118

Median age

26.6

Renters

56.2%

Age distribution

15.9%

46.1%

18.7%

Under 1815.9%

18–3446.1%

35–5418.7%

55–648.4%

65+10.9%

Gender

50.5%

49.5%

Male50.5%

Female49.5%

Race & ethnicity

55.8%

17.2%

15.8%

White55.8%

Black17.2%

Hispanic7.9%

Asian15.8%

Other3.3%

Education (25+)

18.1%

24.1%

52.7%

No HS diploma5.1%

HS diploma18.1%

Some college24.1%

Bachelor's+52.7%

Housing tenure

43.8%

56.2%

Owner43.8%

Renter56.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Champaign, IL has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,012 → $1,410

up 39.3%

Income

$52,687 → $56,118

up 6.5%

Population

88,343 → 89,996

up 1.9%

Renter share

55.9% → 56.2%

+0.3 pts

Bachelor's+

51.9% → 52.7%

+0.8 pts

Rent in Champaign, IL has climbed 39.3% since 2021, going from about $1,012 per month to roughly $1,410 today. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $52,687 in 2021 to $56,118 more recently. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 32.8 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 88,343 to 89,996 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.9% change. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Champaign, IL market of 2021.

Community

Discussions about Champaign

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View Champaign rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Champaign on your salary?

At $1,410/mo, how Champaign rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $96,370/yr · Rent = 17.6% income

very comfortable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $68,422/yr · Rent = 24.7% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $78,815/yr · Rent = 21.5% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $140,872/yr · Rent = 12% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $179,999/yr · Rent = 9.4% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $64,066/yr · Rent = 26.4% income

affordable

Truck Driver

Avg $57,844/yr · Rent = 29.3% income

affordable

Electrician

Avg $71,298/yr · Rent = 23.7% income

affordable

By apartment size

Champaign rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Champaign. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Champaign

About renting in Champaign, IL

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Champaign is $1,410/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,033/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,233/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,040/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,607/mo.

At 30% of local median household income ($56,118/yr), Champaign ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.6% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Champaign an affordable city for renters?

Champaign is considered moderate for renters. At $1,410/mo, rent takes approximately 30% of the local median household income ($56,118/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Champaign slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Champaign?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $56,000/year (~$27/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,410/mo in Champaign. The local median household income is $56,118/yr, meaning the typical Champaign household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Champaign?

Rent in Champaign has increased 3.6% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Champaign neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Champaign are 61820 ($1,213/mo), 61821 ($1,450/mo), and 61822 ($1,796/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Champaign is $1,410/mo.

How does Champaign rent compare to other cities in Illinois?

Champaign is one of the more affordable cities in Illinois for rent, ranking #105 out of 142 tracked cities at $1,410/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Champaign?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Champaign ($1,410/mo): Charleston ($730/mo), Rantoul ($808/mo), Urbana ($1,249/mo).

What percentage of Champaign residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 56.2% of Champaign households are renters, while 43.8% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Champaign has a strong rental market.

How does Champaign rent compare to the national average?

Champaign's median rent of $1,410/mo is $555 (28%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Illinois, it ranks #105 out of 142 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

30%

MODERATE

At $1,410/mo, rent takes ~30% of Champaign's median household income ($56,118/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Champaign 30%Benchmark 30%

State income tax4.95%

Run the Champaign affordability calculator →

Nearby cities