At $1,888/mo, rent takes about 36% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.
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 $1,888 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 Kalispell is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in February 2023.
Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($63,415) is $1,585 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,580); a 3-bedroom is $2,110.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Kalispell. 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
Kalispell, MT is majority owner-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 34.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Kalispell, MT has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2023, rent in Kalispell, MT has increased by $86 per month, settling near $1,888 after starting the period at $1,802. Household income in the area moved from $55,411 to $63,415 across the same window, up 14.4% versus 2021. Income growth outran rent by about 9.6 percentage points, easing the affordability math somewhat compared with 2021. Headcount in the area went from 24,260 to 28,504 between 2021 and 2024, a 17.5% change. About 44.9% of households rent today, against 41.1% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 30.6% to 34.8%. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Kalispell, MT look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
Discussions about Kalispell
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Kalispell on your salary?
At $1,888/mo, how Kalispell rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Kalispell rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Kalispell. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Kalispell
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Kalispell is $1,888/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,160/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,580/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,200/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,110/mo.
At 36% of local median household income ($63,415/yr), Kalispell ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Kalispell?
Is rent going up or down in Kalispell?
How does Kalispell rent compare to other cities in Montana?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Kalispell?
At $1,888/mo, rent takes ~36% of Kalispell's median household income ($63,415/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 Kalispell.
No discussions yet.