Rents are 6% below what Auburn's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
Bedroom figures are derived from HUD Fair Market Rents and scaled to match Auburn's market median, because the published HUD values all ran above it. They are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
December. Asking rents in Auburn usually run 0.8% below trend in December and 0.9% above it in July, about $35 a month apart at today's median. Based on 10 years of data.
Rent in Auburn is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in April 2016.
Rent in Auburn changed +3.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 97 Washington cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.6%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Auburn rose 32.4% while median household income rose 34.4% ($72,822 to $97,884). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in Auburn is 36.8% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($97,884) is $2,447 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($2,165); a 2-bedroom is $2,520.
Fife, 7 miles away, rents for 12% less ($1,794/mo), about $2,900 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Auburn. 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
Auburn, WA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 25.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Auburn, WA has changed in 5 years
Rent in Auburn, WA has climbed 28.4% since 2021, going from about $1,582 per month to roughly $2,032 today. Census figures show median household income at $97,884 today, compared with $79,415 five years earlier. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 5.1 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
Discussions about Auburn
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Auburn on your salary?
At $2,032/mo, how Auburn rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Auburn rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Auburn. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Auburn
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Auburn is $2,032/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,559/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,866/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,603/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,462/mo.
At 25% of local median household income ($97,884/yr), Auburn ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Auburn?
Is rent going up or down in Auburn?
When is the cheapest time to rent in Auburn?
Has rent outpaced income in Auburn?
Which Auburn neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Auburn rent compare to other cities in Washington?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Auburn?
At $2,032/mo, rent takes ~25% of Auburn's median household income ($97,884/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 Auburn.
No discussions yet.