Rents are 3% below what Lansing'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 $1,231 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: August 17, 2026
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Who lives here
Lansing, MI is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 30.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Lansing, MI has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in Lansing, MI has climbed from $908 to $1,231, a 35.6% change over five years. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $46,570 in 2021 to $54,382 more recently. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. Renters now make up 46.2% of households, compared with 48.2% five years ago. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Lansing, MI market of 2021.
Discussions about Lansing
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Can you afford rent in Lansing on your salary?
At $1,231/mo, how Lansing rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Lansing rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Lansing. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Lansing
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Lansing is $1,231/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $852/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,103/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $887/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,437/mo.
At 27% of local median household income ($54,382/yr), Lansing ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 0.7% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which Lansing neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
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What percentage of Lansing residents rent vs. own?
How does Lansing rent compare to the national average?
At $1,231/mo, rent takes ~27% of Lansing's median household income ($54,382/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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