Rents are 6% below what Detroit'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 $1,341 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: September 25, 2026
What the numbers show
January. Asking rents in Detroit usually run 0.5% below trend in January and 0.6% above it in July, about $15 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Detroit is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Detroit changed +4.4% over the year to August 2026. Across the 80 Michigan cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.8%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Detroit rose 44.9% while median household income rose 29.3% ($30,894 to $39,938). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Detroit is 54.3% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 36.8% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 5 months in a row, and rose in 11 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($39,938) is $998 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($987); a 2-bedroom is $1,252.
The priciest of 21 ZIP codes in Detroit, 48226 ($2,010/mo), costs 2.2 times the cheapest, 48209 ($934/mo).
Melvindale, 8 miles away, rents for 14% less ($1,154/mo), about $2,200 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Detroit. 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.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Detroit, MI is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income below the national average, 18.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Detroit, MI has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Detroit, MI stood at $1,000 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,341, reflecting a 34.1% increase over the period. Census figures show median household income at $39,938 today, compared with $34,762 five years earlier. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 1.1% since 2021, moving from about 645,658 residents to roughly 638,530. Renters now make up 49.7% of households, compared with 51.7% five years ago. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
Discussions about Detroit
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Detroit on your salary?
At $1,341/mo, how Detroit rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Detroit rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Detroit. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Detroit
Last updated: September 25, 2026
The median rent in Detroit is $1,341/mo as of September 2026. A studio apartment averages $895/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,252/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $987/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,539/mo.
At 40% of local median household income ($39,938/yr), Detroit ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Detroit?
Is rent going up or down in Detroit?
When is the cheapest time to rent in Detroit?
Has rent outpaced income in Detroit?
Which Detroit neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Detroit rent compare to other cities in Michigan?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Detroit?
At $1,341/mo, rent takes ~40% of Detroit's median household income ($39,938/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Detroit.
No discussions yet.