Rents are 6% below what Liberty'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 $1,574 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
March. Asking rents in Liberty usually run 0.9% below trend in March and 1.2% above it in August, about $33 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.
Rent in Liberty is 0.1% below its high of $1,575 in August 2026, at $1,574 as of September 2026.
Rent in Liberty changed +2.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 60 Missouri cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.4%.
Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($88,542) is $2,214 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,900).
Excelsior Springs, 10 miles away, rents for 12% less ($1,391/mo), about $2,200 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Liberty. 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
Liberty, MO is majority owner-occupied, 39.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Liberty, MO has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Liberty, MO stood at $1,128 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,574, reflecting a 39.5% increase over the period. On the earnings side, the typical household in Liberty, MO now reports about $88,542, up from $81,352 in 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 1.9% since 2021, moving from about 30,129 residents to roughly 30,689. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Liberty, MO reflects that arc in its own way.
Discussions about Liberty
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Liberty on your salary?
At $1,574/mo, how Liberty rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Liberty rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Liberty. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Liberty
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Liberty is $1,574/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $980/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,230/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,080/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,600/mo.
At 21% of local median household income ($88,542/yr), Liberty ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Liberty?
Is rent going up or down in Liberty?
When is the cheapest time to rent in Liberty?
How does Liberty rent compare to other cities in Missouri?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Liberty?
At $1,574/mo, rent takes ~21% of Liberty's median household income ($88,542/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 Liberty.
No discussions yet.