Rents are 7% below what Cincinnati'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 $1,445 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
Cincinnati, OH is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 41.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Cincinnati, OH has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in Cincinnati, OH has shifted from $1,089 to $1,445, up 32.7% since 2021. On the earnings side, the typical household in Cincinnati, OH now reports about $52,909, up from $45,235 in 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 39.6% to 41.8% across the same window. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Cincinnati, OH reflects that arc in its own way.
Discussions about Cincinnati
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Can you afford rent in Cincinnati on your salary?
At $1,445/mo, how Cincinnati rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Cincinnati rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Cincinnati. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Cincinnati
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Cincinnati is $1,445/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $878/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,283/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $989/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,702/mo.
At 33% of local median household income ($52,909/yr), Cincinnati ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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What percentage of Cincinnati residents rent vs. own?
How does Cincinnati rent compare to the national average?
At $1,445/mo, rent takes ~33% of Cincinnati's median household income ($52,909/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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