Rents are 4% below what Louisville'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 $1,330 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 Louisville usually run 0.7% below trend in January and 0.6% above it in June, about $17 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Louisville is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Louisville changed +2.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 26 Kentucky cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.2%.
Rent in Louisville is 38.7% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
The priciest of 29 ZIP codes in Louisville, 40245 ($1,712/mo), costs 1.7 times the cheapest, 40203 ($1,006/mo).
Clarksville, IN, 8 miles away, rents for 13% less ($1,156/mo), about $2,100 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Louisville. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series.
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Who lives here
Louisville, KY is majority owner-occupied, 33.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Louisville, KY has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2021, rent in Louisville, KY has increased by $329 per month, settling near $1,330 after starting the period at $1,001. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 31.6% to 33.8%. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Louisville on your salary?
At $1,330/mo, how Louisville rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Louisville rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Louisville. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Louisville
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Louisville is $1,330/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,061/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,408/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,159/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,818/mo.
At 22% of estimated US median household income ($72,000/yr), Louisville ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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At $1,330/mo, rent takes ~22% of US median household income ($72,000/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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