Rents are 4% below what Yakima'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 $1,330 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 Yakima is 0.1% below its high of $1,331 in July 2026, at $1,330 as of September 2026.
Rent in Yakima changed +1.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 97 Washington cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.6%.
30% of the median household income ($62,815) is $1,570 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,367); a 3-bedroom is $1,917.
The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Yakima, 98908 ($1,786/mo), costs 1.6 times the cheapest, 98901 ($1,088/mo).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Yakima. 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
Yakima, WA is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 20.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Yakima, WA has changed in 5 years
Since 2022, the typical rent in Yakima, WA has climbed from $1,136 to $1,330, a 17.1% change over five years. On the earnings side, the typical household in Yakima, WA now reports about $62,815, up from $50,673 in 2021. On paper, paychecks moved up faster than rent, which softens the affordability squeeze versus the 2021 baseline. For context, the 2022 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Yakima, WA reflects that arc in its own way.
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Can you afford rent in Yakima on your salary?
At $1,330/mo, how Yakima rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Yakima rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Yakima. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Yakima
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Yakima is $1,330/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,027/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,367/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,040/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,917/mo.
At 25% of local median household income ($62,815/yr), Yakima ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Yakima rent compare to other cities in Washington?
At $1,330/mo, rent takes ~25% of Yakima's median household income ($62,815/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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