Rents are 8% above what Monroe's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.
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 $1,216 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
Rent in Monroe is 4.6% below its high of $1,275 in June 2026, at $1,216 as of September 2026.
Rent in Monroe changed +7.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 36 Louisiana cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.9%.
Rent has fallen 3 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($40,505) is $1,013 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($900); a 3-bedroom is $1,160.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Monroe. 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
Monroe, LA is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 32.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Monroe, LA has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Monroe, LA stood at $888 in 2023 and currently runs about $1,216, reflecting a 36.9% increase over the period. Household income in the area moved from $33,925 to $40,505 across the same window, up 19.4% versus 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 2.3% since 2021, moving from about 48,105 residents to roughly 47,004. Renters now make up 52.2% of households, compared with 54.5% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 32.4% of adults here, versus 26.8% in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Monroe, LA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in Monroe on your salary?
At $1,216/mo, how Monroe rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Monroe rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Monroe. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Monroe
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Monroe is $1,216/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $700/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $900/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $700/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,160/mo.
At 36% of local median household income ($40,505/yr), Monroe ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.2% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Monroe?
Is rent going up or down in Monroe?
How does Monroe rent compare to other cities in Louisiana?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Monroe?
At $1,216/mo, rent takes ~36% of Monroe's median household income ($40,505/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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