Rent Is Rising in These States in 2026, but Falling in Others

Rent is still expensive across much of the country, but the 2026 picture is more complicated than another round of across-the-board increases. Some states are still getting pricier. Others have barely moved. A few are actually cheaper than they were a year ago.

To keep the comparison consistent, 24/7 Tempo used RentCafe market data updated in late August and early September 2026. The figures are based on Yardi Matrix apartment data and cover properties with 50 or more units. The national average apartment rent was $1,771, but state averages ranged widely and year-over-year changes were all over the map.

Each slide shows the current average apartment rent, the comparable figure from a year earlier, the year-over-year change, and the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment. Alaska is the one exception: RentCafe does not publish a comparable statewide average there, so Anchorage is used as the benchmark.

• Average Rent One Year Earlier: $1,996
• Average Rent in 2026: $1,998
• Year-over-Year Change: +0.14%
• Average Two-Bedroom Rent in 2026: $2,075

Florida remains expensive by national standards, but the statewide average barely moved over the past year. The average apartment rent edged from $1,996 to $1,998, while a two-bedroom averaged $2,075. In other words, Florida renters are still paying a lot, but the rapid increases of the early 2020s have cooled considerably.

• Average Rent One Year Earlier: $2,435
• Average Rent in 2026: $2,470
• Year-over-Year Change: +1.44%
• Average Two-Bedroom Rent in 2026: $2,787

New Jersey is easily one of the priciest states in this group. The average apartment rent reached $2,470, up 1.44% from a year earlier, and the average two-bedroom climbed to $2,787. The increase is not explosive, but when the starting price is already that high, even a modest percentage gain hurts.

• Average Rent One Year Earlier: $2,058
• Average Rent in 2026: $2,062
• Year-over-Year Change: +0.22%
• Average Two-Bedroom Rent in 2026: $2,196

Washington's average apartment rent sits above $2,000, but prices were nearly flat over the past year. The statewide average rose just $4, from $2,058 to $2,062, while the average two-bedroom came in at $2,196. That is more stabilization than surge, although renters are stabilizing at a pretty expensive level.

• Average Rent One Year Earlier: $1,548
• Average Rent in 2026: $1,561
• Year-over-Year Change: +0.80%
• Average Two-Bedroom Rent in 2026: $1,573

Tennessee remains cheaper than many coastal states, but rents still moved higher. The average rose from $1,548 to $1,561, an increase of 0.8%, while two-bedroom apartments averaged $1,573. The statewide number also hides big differences between markets such as Nashville and smaller Tennessee cities.

• Average Rent One Year Earlier: $1,892
• Average Rent in 2026: $1,896
• Year-over-Year Change: +0.21%
• Average Two-Bedroom Rent in 2026: $1,972

Maryland's statewide average was essentially unchanged from a year earlier, rising from $1,892 to $1,896. A two-bedroom averaged $1,972. That puts Maryland above the national apartment average even without much year-over-year growth.

• Average Rent One Year Earlier: $1,334
• Average Rent in 2026: $1,367
• Year-over-Year Change: +2.47%
• Average Two-Bedroom Rent in 2026: $1,447

Ohio remains comparatively affordable, but it posted a more noticeable increase than several higher-cost states on this list. Average apartment rent rose 2.47% to $1,367, while a two-bedroom averaged $1,447. That is still below the national average, but the direction is not doing renters any favors.

• Average Rent One Year Earlier: $1,631
• Average Rent in 2026: $1,655
• Year-over-Year Change: +1.50%
• Average Two-Bedroom Rent in 2026: $1,627

South Carolina's average apartment rent rose 1.5% over the past year, moving from $1,631 to $1,655. Interestingly, the average two-bedroom was slightly lower at $1,627 because the statewide all-unit average reflects a mix of apartment sizes and markets. The larger story is that rents are still creeping upward rather than falling.

• Average Rent One Year Earlier: $1,328
• Average Rent in 2026: $1,352
• Year-over-Year Change: +1.81%
• Average Two-Bedroom Rent in 2026: $1,392

Indiana is still on the more affordable side nationally, but average rent increased 1.81% to $1,352. Two-bedroom apartments averaged $1,392. The numbers are not eye-popping compared with New Jersey or Washington, but they are moving in the wrong direction for anyone renewing a lease.

• Average Rent One Year Earlier: $1,343
• Average Rent in 2026: $1,374
• Year-over-Year Change: +2.27%
• Average Two-Bedroom Rent in 2026: $1,498

Nebraska posted one of the stronger increases in this group. Average apartment rent climbed from $1,343 to $1,374, a 2.27% gain, while the average two-bedroom reached $1,498. The state remains below the national average overall, but the gap is narrowing.

• Average Rent One Year Earlier: $1,302
• Average Rent in 2026: $1,344
• Year-over-Year Change: +3.19%
• Average Two-Bedroom Rent in 2026: $1,435

Kansas had one of the biggest year-over-year increases among the states in this slideshow. Average apartment rent jumped 3.19% to $1,344, with two-bedroom units averaging $1,435. The absolute price is still relatively modest compared with the coasts, but the pace of increase stands out.

• Anchorage Average Rent One Year Earlier: $1,517
• Anchorage Average Rent in 2026: $1,525
• Year-over-Year Change: +0.56%
• Average Two-Bedroom Rent in Anchorage: $1,683

RentCafe does not publish a directly comparable statewide Alaska average, so Anchorage is used here as the practical benchmark. In Anchorage, average apartment rent rose from $1,517 to $1,525, while a two-bedroom averaged $1,683. That makes this slide useful for Alaska's largest rental market, but it should not be read as a statewide average.

• Average Rent One Year Earlier: $1,726
• Average Rent in 2026: $1,763
• Year-over-Year Change: +2.17%
• Average Two-Bedroom Rent in 2026: $1,792

Montana's average apartment rent rose 2.17% over the past year, from $1,726 to $1,763. Two-bedroom units averaged $1,792. That leaves the statewide average almost exactly in line with the national apartment average, a notable change for a state that was once viewed as a much cheaper alternative to larger Western markets.

• Average Rent One Year Earlier: $1,574
• Average Rent in 2026: $1,579
• Year-over-Year Change: +0.38%
• Average Two-Bedroom Rent in 2026: $1,604

North Carolina rents were nearly flat statewide. The average moved from $1,574 to $1,579, an increase of just 0.38%, while a two-bedroom averaged $1,604. Some individual markets can still move much faster in either direction, so the statewide figure is best treated as the broad trend.

• Average Rent One Year Earlier: $1,422
• Average Rent in 2026: $1,441
• Year-over-Year Change: +1.35%
• Average Two-Bedroom Rent in 2026: $1,549

New Mexico's average apartment rent increased 1.35% to $1,441, up from $1,422 a year earlier. The average two-bedroom reached $1,549. That keeps New Mexico below the national average, though renters are still paying more than they were at this point last year.

• Average Rent One Year Earlier: $1,332
• Average Rent in 2026: $1,376
• Year-over-Year Change: +3.32%
• Average Two-Bedroom Rent in 2026: $1,423

Missouri posted one of the largest increases in this group. Average apartment rent climbed 3.32% from $1,332 to $1,376, while a two-bedroom averaged $1,423. The state is still well below the national apartment average, but the recent pace of growth is among the more noticeable on this list.

• Average Rent One Year Earlier: $1,136
• Average Rent in 2026: $1,165
• Year-over-Year Change: +2.53%
• Average Two-Bedroom Rent in 2026: $1,164

Arkansas remains one of the least expensive states in the country for apartment rent, but prices still rose. The average increased 2.53% to $1,165, while the average two-bedroom was almost identical at $1,164. Affordable does not necessarily mean getting cheaper.

• Average Rent One Year Earlier: $1,265
• Average Rent in 2026: $1,262
• Year-over-Year Change: -0.22%
• Average Two-Bedroom Rent in 2026: $1,281

Iowa is one of the states in this slideshow where rent actually moved slightly lower. Average apartment rent slipped from $1,265 to $1,262, a 0.22% decline, while a two-bedroom averaged $1,281. That is basically flat, but it is still better news for renters than another increase.

• Average Rent One Year Earlier: $1,878
• Average Rent in 2026: $1,850
• Year-over-Year Change: -1.49%
• Average Two-Bedroom Rent in 2026: $2,025

Colorado is one of the few states here where average rent moved lower over the past year. Average apartment rent fell 1.49%, dropping from $1,878 to $1,850. Two-bedroom apartments still averaged a hefty $2,025, so Colorado is not suddenly cheap, but statewide rent pressure did ease.

• Average Rent One Year Earlier: $1,149
• Average Rent in 2026: $1,193
• Year-over-Year Change: +3.82%
• Average Two-Bedroom Rent in 2026: $1,194

North Dakota had the strongest increase among the states in this updated group. Average apartment rent rose 3.82%, from $1,149 to $1,193, while the average two-bedroom was $1,194. Even after that increase, it remains one of the least expensive states in the country by RentCafe's measure.

• Average Rent One Year Earlier: $1,266
• Average Rent in 2026: $1,260
• Year-over-Year Change: -0.49%
• Average Two-Bedroom Rent in 2026: $1,287

Louisiana is another state where average rent moved down rather than up. Apartment rent slipped 0.49% from $1,266 to $1,260, while the average two-bedroom was $1,287. The decline is small, but renters at least saw a little movement in the right direction.