Rents are 6% below what South Bend'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 $1,269 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
February. Asking rents in South Bend usually run 0.8% below trend in February and 0.5% above it in September, about $16 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in South Bend is 0.8% below its high of $1,279 in June 2026, at $1,269 as of September 2026.
Rent in South Bend changed +2.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 49 Indiana cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.5%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in South Bend rose 55.8% while median household income rose 38.5% ($40,265 to $55,786). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in South Bend is 64.4% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($55,786) is $1,395 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,393); a 4-bedroom is $1,496.
The priciest of 8 ZIP codes in South Bend, 46617 ($1,530/mo), costs 39% more than the cheapest, 46601 ($1,100/mo).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for South Bend. 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
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.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How South Bend, IN has changed in 5 years
Rent in South Bend, IN has climbed 39.5% since 2021, going from about $910 per month to roughly $1,269 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 18.2 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.
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Can you afford rent in South Bend on your salary?
At $1,269/mo, how South Bend rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
South Bend rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in South Bend. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in South Bend
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in South Bend is $1,269/mo as of October 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 27% of local median household income ($55,786/yr), South Bend ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does South Bend rent compare to other cities in Indiana?
At $1,269/mo, rent takes ~27% of South Bend's median household income ($55,786/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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