Start with the ZIP table below to compare rental prices around St. Louis, then check homes with the same bedrooms, condition and lease terms. A ZIP index is a starting point, not the rent for your unit. The City and St. Louis County are separate jurisdictions; a Saint Louis mailing address alone does not identify the applicable rules.
The median of the 15 tracked ZIP-level rent indices for Saint Louis is $1,293 a month; the newest ZIP observation is September 2026. This is an unweighted summary of ZIP indices, not a citywide rent estimate. ZIP 63147 has the lowest index at $925 and ZIP 63102 the highest at $1,901. Unit mix, observation dates and coverage can differ.
Across Saint Louis City, typical rent is $1,287 as of September 2026. That is up 3.4% from a year earlier and up 23.1% over five years.
HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two bedroom in St. Louis city is $1,349. HUD marks this area for Small Area FMRs; check the applicable ZIP and housing authority schedule. In 13 of 15 tracked Saint Louis ZIPs, the two-bedroom HUD reference exceeds the all-size rent index. This comparison does not establish what a voucher tenancy will pay for a particular unit.
Market rent and voucher rent by ZIP code in Saint Louis
How to use average rental prices by ZIP code
Each row shows a tracked postal ZIP associated with Saint Louis. Read the observation dates before comparing values: Zillow's all-size rent index and HUD's bedroom-specific references measure different things. A missing observation means incomplete coverage, not zero rent.
On a narrow screen, swipe or focus the table and scroll sideways to see every column.
| Postal ZIP | All-size ZORI / month | HUD 2BR | HUD 3BR | HUD basis / year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 63101 | $1,329September 2026 | $1,600 | $2,050 | ZIP SAFMR / FY2027 |
| 63102 | $1,901September 2026 | $1,450 | $1,860 | ZIP SAFMR / FY2027 |
| 63103 | $1,437September 2026 | $1,270 | $1,630 | ZIP SAFMR / FY2027 |
| 63104 | $1,423September 2026 | $1,490 | $1,910 | ZIP SAFMR / FY2027 |
| 63108 | $1,664September 2026 | $2,000 | $2,570 | ZIP SAFMR / FY2027 |
| 63109 | $1,136September 2026 | $1,380 | $1,770 | ZIP SAFMR / FY2027 |
| 63110 | $1,476September 2026 | $1,630 | $2,090 | ZIP SAFMR / FY2027 |
| 63111 | $1,033September 2026 | $1,070 | $1,370 | ZIP SAFMR / FY2027 |
| 63112 | $1,293September 2026 | $1,320 | $1,690 | ZIP SAFMR / FY2027 |
| 63113 | $961September 2026 | $1,250 | $1,600 | ZIP SAFMR / FY2027 |
| 63115 | $952September 2026 | $1,160 | $1,490 | ZIP SAFMR / FY2027 |
| 63116 | $1,093September 2026 | $1,310 | $1,680 | ZIP SAFMR / FY2027 |
| 63118 | $1,186September 2026 | $1,320 | $1,690 | ZIP SAFMR / FY2027 |
| 63139 | $1,305September 2026 | $1,500 | $1,920 | ZIP SAFMR / FY2027 |
| 63147 | $925September 2026 | $1,220 | $1,570 | ZIP SAFMR / FY2027 |
Market rent is the Zillow Observed Rent Index, which covers all unit sizes. Dates and HUD geography are shown for each row.These columns compare different measures and periods; the difference is not a matched-unit premium, an adopted payment standard or an approved rent. Check bedroom-matched comps, the authority's schedule and utility allowance before underwriting.
- Find the property's ZIP. The Saint Louis rent lookup provides the full list and its plain-average summary. That summary is not a bedroom-matched city median, and postal ZIPs need not follow municipal boundaries.
- Choose comparable units. Match bedroom count, building type, approximate size and condition before adjusting for parking, laundry or outdoor space. The rent-pricing guide explains how to evaluate a small set of defensible comps.
- Compare the same lease package. Record concessions, lease length and who pays each utility. A higher advertised rent can leave less income after included services.
- Keep the date and evidence. Save the listing or confirmed lease terms, observation date and reason each unit is comparable. Recheck stale listings instead of treating an old asking price as a completed lease.
A ZIP index, an asking rent and an approved rent answer different questions
On a narrow screen, swipe or focus the table and scroll sideways to see every column.
| Measure | What it helps answer | What it cannot establish |
|---|---|---|
| Zillow Observed Rent Index | How typical asking rents in the tracked area change | The signed rent or condition of this unit |
| Bedroom-matched comparable rentals | What similar homes are offered for, or leased for if confirmed | A guaranteed tenant or collection rate |
| HUD FMR or ZIP-level SAFMR | The published gross-rent reference for the bedroom size | The agency's adopted payment standard or approved owner rent |
| Agency tenancy determination | The approved terms for the household and unit | The owner's operating costs or investment return |
Sources: Zillow's ZORI methodology, HUD Fair Market Rent documentation and HUD's Small Area FMR overview, checked October 17, 2026. This is a reading guide, not a conversion formula between measures.
Original illustration · same 12-month window
Assume equally suitable units, full collection and no vacancy. Lease B includes $120 a month of owner-paid utilities and a one-time $600 rent credit. Lease A includes neither.
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| Input or result | Lease A | Lease B |
|---|---|---|
| Advertised monthly rent | $1,650 | $1,750 |
| Scheduled annual rent | $19,800 | $21,000 |
| One-time rent credit | $0 | $600 |
| Annual owner-paid utilities | $0 | $1,440 |
| Annual rent less credit and utilities | $19,800 | $18,960 |
| Monthly equivalent after adjustments | $1,650 | $1,580 |
Lease B leaves $840 less over the year. Other costs, condition and amenities could change the choice. These adjusted amounts are not advertised rents, HUD gross rents or NOI.
RentalCalcs calculation, October 17, 2026: 12 × monthly rent − one-time credit − 12 × included monthly utilities. Bars start at zero on the same $21,000 scale. These are invented lease packages, not surveyed St. Louis listings; the property budget below is a separate example.
HUD Fair Market Rents for Saint Louis City
The table is keyed to Saint Louis City, FIPS 29510. Do not substitute St. Louis County observations into its history. The City operates its own county offices; the shared name does not make the jurisdictions interchangeable.
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| Unit size | FY2027 Fair Market Rent | Change from FY2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,064 | +11.4% |
| 1 bedroom | $1,104 | +11.0% |
| 2 bedroom | $1,349 | +10.8% |
| 3 bedroom | $1,731 | +10.4% |
| 4 bedroom | $1,997 | +10.2% |
St. Louis city, HUD fiscal year 2027. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. These are the latest figures loaded into RentalCalcs, not an authority's adopted payment standards or a rent approval.
HUD Fair Market Rent includes an allowance for tenant-paid utilities. A payment standard is a separate agency input, and approved assistance depends on the household and unit. The Section 8 calculation guide explains the distinctions without treating the published amount as guaranteed rent.
- Identify the administering agency. St. Louis Housing Authority landlord resources provide its tenancy packet and administrative plan. County Housing landlord resources cover the separate county agency. Confirm the actual administering agency, especially for a portable voucher.
- Request the applicable documents. Obtain the adopted payment-standard schedule, household voucher size and utility responsibility determination. Check the effective date for the proposed tenancy; a HUD fiscal-year label does not answer that question.
- Confirm the unit and rent. County Housing describes comparing proposed rent with similar units and unassisted units on the premises. Ask the administering agency what evidence and inspections your tenancy needs before relying on the requested amount.
The Missouri HUD-to-rent-index comparison provides broader context. Its ratios do not measure a premium available on the same property. The Section 8 rent analyzer is a research handoff, not an agency approval.
How rents in Saint Louis City have moved
- Typical county rent
- $1,287
- September 2026
- One-year change
- +3.4%
- Since September 2025
- Five-year change
- +23.1%
- Since September 2021
Saint Louis City · all-home-type monthly rent index. $823 in December 2015 to $1,287 in September 2026.
The vertical scale starts at $800, not zero, to show change. Earlier points are year-end observations; the final year may be partial. The table below gives the full dates and values.
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index, smoothed and seasonally adjusted. Latest loaded observation: September 2026. This is county evidence, not a forecast for one rental.
On a narrow screen, swipe or focus the table and scroll sideways to see every column.
View all 12 dated observations
| Observation month | Rent index / month | Year-over-year change |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | $1,287 | +3.4% |
| December 2025 | $1,255 | +0.1% |
| December 2024 | $1,254 | +4.4% |
| December 2023 | $1,201 | +3.2% |
| December 2022 | $1,164 | +9.0% |
| December 2021 | $1,068 | +6.8% |
| December 2020 | $1,000 | +5.5% |
| December 2019 | $948 | +4.3% |
| December 2018 | $909 | +3.9% |
| December 2017 | $875 | +3.3% |
| December 2016 | $847 | +3.0% |
| December 2015 | $823 | Not available |
Saint Louis City typical rent, last published month of each year. Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (all home types, smoothed and seasonally adjusted), refreshed monthly. Each percentage compares the same month one year earlier. The index covers all home types, rather than a specific bedroom count.
- Read the actual period. Annual rows use the last loaded observation for that year. An incomplete year's last observation is not a December reading.
- Challenge the proposed increase. If an owner's rent assumption differs from the area trend, look for unit-specific evidence rather than simply adopting either number.
- Keep a flat-rent case. A historical increase does not pay next year's repair bill. Build a downside case with the rental pro forma guide.
What this means if you own a rental in Saint Louis
- Check the local comparison set. The highest tracked ZIP index is 2.1 times the lowest. Check unit type and bedroom-matched comps before using that spread to price a property.
- Verify the voucher calculation independently. HUD references and all-size ZORI describe different things. Obtain the housing authority's payment standard and utility allowance, then check rent reasonableness for the actual unit. The table cannot determine a voucher premium, turnover rate or collection outcome.
- Test the deal without future rent increases. County rents are up 3.4% from a year ago. That observation does not establish the increase available on a particular lease. Compare a flat-rent case before choosing a growth assumption.
Budget the City's inspection before setting the move-in date
The City's Housing Conservation inspection instructions, checked October 17, 2026, require a Certificate of Inspection before a rental unit is occupied. The stated application fee is $120; an occupied dwelling without a current certificate has a $200 fee. Additional-unit and payment-method charges can differ.
The City calls this a basic code inspection, not a warranty of building systems. Price roof, masonry, plumbing and heating work from property records and qualified inspections. The capital-reserve guide helps separate routine repairs from future replacements.
- Address and unit: verify the actual municipality and the unit being leased. A postal city name is not a jurisdiction determination.
- Property readiness: for a City rental, confirm the Certificate of Inspection and any corrective work. Keep the inspection application and repair cash in the lease-start budget.
- Tenancy and receipts: if a voucher is involved, confirm the administering agency’s required documents, inspection and approved rent separately. Forecast the first receipts using confirmed dates.
Sources: City inspection instructions and SLHA tenancy resources, checked October 17, 2026. These are separate checks; no processing time or approval is promised.
A realistic budget can matter more than a higher rent estimate
The fictional existing rental below uses $1,650 monthly rent, a $100,000 outstanding loan and separately budgeted owner-paid water/sewer. Neither the rent nor the costs are St. Louis averages. Replace them with matched comps, the actual tax bill, insurance quotes, utility bills and maintenance records.
Original property illustration · hypothetical inputs
- $922
- Base annual cash; $1,650 rent and 5% income loss.
- -$1,148
- Downside annual cash; $1,500 rent and 8% income loss.
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| Budget item | Base case | Downside |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly contract rent | $1,650 | $1,500 |
| Annual scheduled rent | $19,800 | $18,000 |
| Vacancy / collection loss | $990 | $1,440 |
| Collected income | $18,810 | $16,560 |
| Management: 8% of collections | $1,505 | $1,325 |
| Property tax | $2,400 | $2,400 |
| Insurance | $1,800 | $1,800 |
| Owner-paid water/sewer | $1,200 | $1,200 |
| Routine repairs | $1,800 | $1,800 |
| Net operating income | $10,105 | $8,035 |
| Loan payments | $7,984 | $7,984 |
| Capital reserve funding | $1,200 | $1,200 |
| Cash after debt and reserve | $922 | -$1,148 |
- Financing: $100,000 remaining loan, assumed fixed 7% rate and 360-month amortization. This existing-owner scenario is not a mortgage quote or a purchase-price estimate.
- Expenses: tax, insurance, water/sewer and repairs total $7,200 a year. These are assumptions, not city averages. Water/sewer is paid by the owner; other utilities are paid by the tenant.
- Reserve: $1,200 is set aside below NOI for future capital work. Routine repairs remain an operating expense. Neither figure establishes that this particular building would be adequately funded.
- Omissions: no acquisition costs, HOA, leasing commission, rehabilitation, income tax or sale proceeds. Add any applicable costs before making a decision.
RentalCalcs calculation, October 17, 2026. NOI = collected rent − management − $7,200 fixed expenses. Cash = NOI − unrounded amortizing loan payments − $1,200 reserve. All pictured buildings are unrelated to this example.
Keep the first-lease cash separate from annual cash flow
On a narrow screen, swipe or focus the table and scroll sideways to see every column.
| Stage | Cash movement | Cash still committed |
|---|---|---|
| Make-ready and inspection application | -$2,620 | $2,620 |
| Month 1: no receipts | -$1,365 | $3,985 |
| Month 2: no receipts | -$1,365 | $5,351 |
| Month 3: $1,650 collected | $153 | $5,198 |
This scenario needs about $5,351 before month 3: $2,500 make-ready, the $120 application and two months of carrying cash. Add omitted costs and any payment-processing charge.
The $120 application comes from the City fee schedule; all other amounts and the two-month delay are hypothetical. This calendar replaces the annual vacancy allowance for the timing test; do not add both losses. No retroactive receipts or spendable security deposits are assumed. It is not an inspection or agency-payment forecast.
To test your own figures, open the single-family rental calculator. Enter total rent once, then expenses, financing and reserves. Use the NOI explanation to keep operating income separate from cash after debt. A positive annual result still needs enough cash to reach the first receipts.
Where these numbers come from
- Loaded market data: Zillow Research data. ZIP indices cover all unit sizes; the historical series here is keyed to Saint Louis City. Live blocks display their observation dates.
- HUD references: the FMR and SAFMR documentation linked above. Confirm adopted agency standards separately. No new payment-standard schedule is asserted here.
- Local process: the City's inspection page and the agencies' landlord resources, checked October 17, 2026. Recheck requirements and fees before a tenancy starts.
- Original figures: the lease comparison, annual budget and cash calendar are hypothetical RentalCalcs calculations. Photographs document local architecture on their stated dates; none depicts the modeled rental or verifies a current vacancy.
- Corrections: contact RentalCalcs with the page, source and observation date. Do not send private tenant income or identification documents.
Is the ZIP rent figure an average two-bedroom rent?
No. The Zillow measure used here blends unit sizes and is an index, not a survey of two-bedroom leases. Match bedroom count and lease terms using actual comparable units before setting an asking rent.
Does the highest ZIP benchmark identify the best rental investment?
No. A ZIP benchmark cannot establish acquisition price, condition, expenses, vacancy or financing. Compare property-level cash flows and the evidence behind each input rather than ranking investments by rent alone.
Does a Saint Louis address mean the City's inspection rules apply?
Not necessarily. Check the property's actual municipality. The City guidance above applies to the City; a county or other municipal address needs its own applicable requirements. For voucher rules, also confirm the administering agency.
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