Rents are 11% below what Vancouver'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 $1,803 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
January. Asking rents in Vancouver usually run 1.2% below trend in January and 1.2% above it in August, about $43 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Vancouver is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Vancouver changed +0.8% 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 Vancouver rose 29.6% while median household income rose 31.8% ($61,714 to $81,338). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in Vancouver is 31% 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 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($81,338) is $2,033 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,993); a 3-bedroom is $2,739.
The priciest of 11 ZIP codes in Vancouver, 98685 ($2,468/mo), costs 1.5 times the cheapest, 98661 ($1,668/mo).
Raleigh Hills, OR, 14 miles away, rents for 15% less ($1,524/mo), about $3,300 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Vancouver. 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
Vancouver, WA is roughly split between renters and owners, 32.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Vancouver, WA has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Vancouver, WA stood at $1,499 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,803, reflecting a 20.3% increase over the period. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $67,462 in 2021 to $81,338 more recently. The population has grown by 3.7% since 2021, moving from about 188,331 residents to roughly 195,300. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Vancouver, WA market of 2021.
Discussions about Vancouver
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Can you afford rent in Vancouver on your salary?
At $1,803/mo, how Vancouver rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Vancouver rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Vancouver. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Vancouver
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Vancouver is $1,803/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,625/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,993/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,745/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,739/mo.
At 27% of local median household income ($81,338/yr), Vancouver ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Vancouver rent compare to other cities in Washington?
At $1,803/mo, rent takes ~27% of Vancouver's median household income ($81,338/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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