Rents are right about where Ellensburg's 10-year trend predicts.
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 $1,487 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 Ellensburg is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in March 2022.
Rent in Ellensburg changed +3.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 97 Washington cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.6%.
Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($55,438) is $1,386 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,320); a 3-bedroom is $1,850.
Yakima, 26 miles away, rents for 11% less ($1,330/mo), about $1,900 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Ellensburg. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Ellensburg, WA is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 41.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Ellensburg, WA has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in Ellensburg, WA has shifted from $1,296 to $1,487, up 14.7% since 2022. On the earnings side, the typical household in Ellensburg, WA now reports about $55,438, up from $47,407 in 2021. Census counts show Ellensburg, WA adding about 1,659 residents over the five-year window, up 8.6% on net. The renter share has risen from 64.7% to 67.1%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. For context, the 2022 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Ellensburg, WA reflects that arc in its own way.
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Can you afford rent in Ellensburg on your salary?
At $1,487/mo, how Ellensburg rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Ellensburg rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Ellensburg. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Ellensburg
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Ellensburg is $1,487/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $910/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,320/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,010/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,850/mo.
At 32% of local median household income ($55,438/yr), Ellensburg ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.7% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Ellensburg?
Is rent going up or down in Ellensburg?
How does Ellensburg rent compare to other cities in Washington?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Ellensburg?
At $1,487/mo, rent takes ~32% of Ellensburg's median household income ($55,438/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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