How much does it cost to rent in South Bend, IN?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in South Bend, IN is $1,310. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is South Bend cheaper than other Indiana cities?

South Bend falls in the middle range for Indiana, ranking #37 out of 65 cities at $1,310/mo.

When was South Bend rent data last updated?

South Bend 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 · IN

South Bend

Name: Average Rent Prices in South Bend, IN
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 103,085·37th most expensive in Indiana·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$1,310/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.1%

Month-over-Month

+1.6%

vs US Median

-$655

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

South Bend · $1,310

More affordable than 87% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

60/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 5% below what South Bend's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$1,310/mo

Expected by trend

$1,376/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$775

1 BR

$964

2 BR

$1,129

3 BR

$1,393

4 BR+

$1,496

Research median

$1,129/mo

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

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$15,720/yr

At $1,310/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (1.1% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+1.1% YoY, +1.6% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

South Bend, IN is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 29.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

103,085

Median income

$55,786

Median age

34.8

Renters

39.8%

Age distribution

25.5%

24.8%

24.2%

15%

Under 1825.5%

18–3424.8%

35–5424.2%

55–6410.6%

65+15%

Gender

47.9%

52.1%

Male47.9%

Female52.1%

Race & ethnicity

53.5%

22.7%

17.9%

White53.5%

Black22.7%

Hispanic17.9%

Asian2.3%

Other3.6%

Education (25+)

12.2%

30.9%

27.5%

29.3%

No HS diploma12.2%

HS diploma30.9%

Some college27.5%

Bachelor's+29.3%

Housing tenure

60.2%

39.8%

Owner60.2%

Renter39.8%

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

2021 vs 2026

How South Bend, IN has changed in 5 years

Rent

$933 → $1,310

up 40.4%

Income

$46,002 → $55,786

up 21.3%

Population

102,786 → 103,085

up 0.3%

Renter share

41.2% → 39.8%

-1.4 pts

Bachelor's+

29.1% → 29.3%

+0.2 pts

Median age

33.9 → 34.8

+0.9 yrs

Rent in South Bend, IN has climbed 40.4% since 2021, going from about $933 per month to roughly $1,310 today. Household income in the area moved from $46,002 to $55,786 across the same window, up 21.3% versus 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 19.1 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in South Bend, IN look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

Discussions about South Bend

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View South Bend rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in South Bend on your salary?

At $1,310/mo, how South Bend rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $86,922/yr · Rent = 18.1% income

very comfortable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $61,714/yr · Rent = 25.5% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $71,088/yr · Rent = 22.1% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $127,061/yr · Rent = 12.4% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $162,352/yr · Rent = 9.7% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $57,785/yr · Rent = 27.2% income

affordable

Truck Driver

Avg $52,173/yr · Rent = 30.1% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $64,308/yr · Rent = 24.4% income

affordable

By apartment size

South Bend rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in South Bend

About renting in South Bend, IN

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in South Bend is $1,310/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $775/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,129/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $964/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,393/mo.

At 28% of local median household income ($55,786/yr), South Bend ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.1% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is South Bend an affordable city for renters?

South Bend is considered affordable for renters. At $1,310/mo, rent takes approximately 28% of the local median household income ($55,786/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. South Bend falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in South Bend?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $52,000/year (~$25/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,310/mo in South Bend. The local median household income is $55,786/yr, meaning the typical South Bend household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in South Bend?

Rent in South Bend has increased 1.1% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which South Bend neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in South Bend are 46601 ($1,196/mo), 46613 ($1,212/mo), and 46628 ($1,222/mo). Citywide, the median rent in South Bend is $1,310/mo.

How does South Bend rent compare to other cities in Indiana?

South Bend is middle-of-the-pack for Indiana for rent, ranking #37 out of 65 tracked cities at $1,310/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than South Bend?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than South Bend ($1,310/mo): Stevensville ($938/mo), Niles ($1,094/mo), Elkhart ($1,174/mo).

What percentage of South Bend residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 39.8% of South Bend households are renters, while 60.2% are owner-occupied. South Bend leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does South Bend rent compare to the national average?

South Bend's median rent of $1,310/mo is $655 (33%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Indiana, it ranks #37 out of 65 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

28%

AFFORDABLE

At $1,310/mo, rent takes ~28% of South Bend's median household income ($55,786/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

South Bend 28%Benchmark 30%

State income tax3.05%

Run the South Bend affordability calculator →

Nearby cities