How much does it cost to rent in Olympia, WA?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Olympia, WA is $2,013. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Olympia cheaper than other Washington cities?

Olympia falls in the middle range for Washington, ranking #58 out of 110 cities at $2,013/mo.

When was Olympia rent data last updated?

Olympia rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · WA

Olympia

Name: Average Rent Prices in Olympia, WA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 55,951·58th most expensive in Washington·Olympia rents are up 6.9% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$2,013/mo

Year-over-Year

+6.9%

Month-over-Month

Stable

vs US Median

+$48

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Olympia · $2,013

More expensive than 60% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

62/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 6% below what Olympia's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$2,013/mo

Expected by trend

$2,140/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Olympia's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,350

1 BR

$1,538

2 BR

$1,788

3 BR

$2,450

4 BR+

$3,000

Research median

$1,788/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$24,156/yr

At $2,013/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 6.9% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+6.9% YoY, +0.1% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Olympia, WA is roughly split between renters and owners, 51.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

55,951

Median income

$81,302

Median age

40.5

Renters

50.2%

Age distribution

17.8%

23.9%

26.8%

19.7%

Under 1817.8%

18–3423.9%

35–5426.8%

55–6411.8%

65+19.7%

Gender

48.5%

51.5%

Male48.5%

Female51.5%

Race & ethnicity

74.3%

White74.3%

Black3%

Hispanic10.6%

Asian6.9%

Other5.2%

Education (25+)

17.5%

27.3%

51.8%

No HS diploma3.5%

HS diploma17.5%

Some college27.3%

Bachelor's+51.8%

Housing tenure

49.8%

50.2%

Owner49.8%

Renter50.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Olympia, WA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,554 → $2,013

up 29.5%

Income

$67,975 → $81,302

up 19.6%

Population

54,579 → 55,951

up 2.5%

Renter share

51.5% → 50.2%

-1.3 pts

Bachelor's+

46.3% → 51.8%

+5.5 pts

Median age

38.4 → 40.5

+2.1 yrs

Across the past five years, the going rent in Olympia, WA has shifted from $1,554 to $2,013, up 29.5% since 2021. Household income in the area moved from $67,975 to $81,302 across the same window, up 19.6% versus 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Olympia, WA adding about 1,372 residents over the five-year window, up 2.5% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 46.3% to 51.8% across the same window. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Olympia, WA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

Discussions about Olympia

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View Olympia rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Olympia on your salary?

At $2,013/mo, how Olympia rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $105,818/yr · Rent = 22.8% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $75,130/yr · Rent = 32.2% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $86,542/yr · Rent = 27.9% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $154,683/yr · Rent = 15.6% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $197,646/yr · Rent = 12.2% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $70,347/yr · Rent = 34.3% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $63,515/yr · Rent = 38% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $78,288/yr · Rent = 30.9% income

stretched

By apartment size

Olympia rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Olympia. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Olympia

About renting in Olympia, WA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Olympia is $2,013/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,350/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,788/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,538/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,450/mo.

At 30% of local median household income ($81,302/yr), Olympia ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.9% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Olympia an affordable city for renters?

Olympia is considered moderate for renters. At $2,013/mo, rent takes approximately 30% of the local median household income ($81,302/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Olympia slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Olympia?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $81,000/year (~$39/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,013/mo in Olympia. The local median household income is $81,302/yr, meaning the typical Olympia household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Olympia?

Rent in Olympia has increased 6.9% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Olympia neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Olympia are 98501 ($1,893/mo), 98506 ($2,006/mo), and 98502 ($2,011/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Olympia is $2,013/mo.

How does Olympia rent compare to other cities in Washington?

Olympia is middle-of-the-pack for Washington for rent, ranking #58 out of 110 tracked cities at $2,013/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Olympia?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Olympia ($2,013/mo): Centralia ($1,300/mo), Shelton ($1,553/mo), Tumwater ($1,922/mo).

What percentage of Olympia residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 50.2% of Olympia households are renters, while 49.8% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Olympia has a strong rental market.

How does Olympia rent compare to the national average?

Olympia's median rent of $2,013/mo is $48 (2%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Washington, it ranks #58 out of 110 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

30%

MODERATE

At $2,013/mo, rent takes ~30% of Olympia's median household income ($81,302/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Olympia 30%Benchmark 30%

State income taxNone

Run the Olympia affordability calculator →

Nearby cities