Rents are 11% below what Tacoma'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 $1,773 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
December. Asking rents in Tacoma usually run 0.7% below trend in December and 0.8% above it in August, about $27 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Tacoma is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Tacoma changed +2.2% 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 Tacoma rose 32.5% while median household income rose 37.7% ($62,358 to $85,884). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in Tacoma is 34.3% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 7 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($85,884) is $2,147 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,983); a 3-bedroom is $2,782.
The priciest of 11 ZIP codes in Tacoma, 98406 ($2,343/mo), costs 1.5 times the cheapest, 98408 ($1,581/mo).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Tacoma. 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.
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Who lives here
Tacoma, WA is majority owner-occupied, 34.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Tacoma, WA has changed in 5 years
Rent in Tacoma, WA has climbed 23.0% since 2021, going from about $1,441 per month to roughly $1,773 today. Census figures show median household income at $85,884 today, compared with $69,956 five years earlier. Headcount in the area went from 217,332 to 222,758 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.5% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 31.3% to 34.5%. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Tacoma on your salary?
At $1,773/mo, how Tacoma rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Tacoma rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Tacoma. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Tacoma
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Tacoma is $1,773/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,440/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,983/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,612/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,782/mo.
At 25% of local median household income ($85,884/yr), Tacoma ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.3% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Tacoma rent compare to other cities in Washington?
At $1,773/mo, rent takes ~25% of Tacoma's median household income ($85,884/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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