Average Rent in Boulder, CO (2026)

Typical asking rent in Boulder is $2,319. Across the 5 ZIP codes with data it runs from $2,277 to $2,955, so which side of town you buy on matters as much as the city average. Data as of July 2026.

Median rent
$2,319
Average rent
$2,467
Lowest ZIP
$2,277
Highest ZIP
$2,955

Rent by ZIP code in Boulder

ZIP codeCountyTypical rentvs city median
80305Boulder County$2,955+27%
80304Boulder County$2,470+7%
80302Boulder County$2,3190%
80301Boulder County$2,3140%
80303Boulder County$2,277-2%

Rent by bedroom count in Boulder

Zillow's index above blends every unit size into one number. For a bedroom level view, these are HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rents for Boulder County. They include utilities and sit near the 40th percentile of the market, so treat them as the low side of what a typical unit lists for.

Unit sizeFY2027 Fair Market RentChange from FY2026
Studio$1,520-2.1%
1 bedroom$1,735-3.3%
2 bedroom$2,033-4.3%
3 bedroom$2,703-4.1%
4 bedroom$3,146-2.9%

Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Updates when HUD publishes a new fiscal year.

Is rent going up or down in Boulder?

Typical rent across Boulder County is $2,222 as of August 2026. That is up 1.4% from a year earlier and up 18.7% over five years.

YearTypical rent, Boulder CountyChange
2021$1,928+11.3%
2022$2,046+6.1%
2023$2,135+4.4%
2024$2,209+3.5%
2025$2,187-1.0%
2026 (through August)$2,222+1.6%

Zillow Observed Rent Index for the county, all home types, last published month of each year. Each row is compared with the end of the year before it.

Boulder rent questions

What is the average rent in Boulder, CO?
Typical asking rent in Boulder is $2,319 a month as of July 2026, across 5 ZIP codes. By ZIP code it runs from $2,277 to $2,955.
How much is rent for a 2 bedroom in Boulder?
HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two bedroom in Boulder County is $2,033 a month including utilities. A one bedroom is $1,735 and a three bedroom is $2,703. Fair Market Rent is set near the 40th percentile, so a typical unit lists somewhat higher.
Is rent going up or down in Boulder?
Rent is rising. Typical rent in Boulder County is $2,222 as of August 2026, up 1.4% from a year earlier.
What is the cheapest ZIP code to rent in Boulder?
ZIP 80303 has the lowest typical asking rent in Boulder at $2,277 a month, compared with $2,319 for the city overall.
How much income do you need to rent in Boulder?
Most landlords look for gross income of about three times the rent. At the typical Boulder rent of $2,319, that is about $6,957 a month, or $83,484 a year. This is a common screening rule of thumb, and individual landlords set their own.

How to use these numbers

These are Zillow Observed Rent Index values, a smoothed measure of typical asking rent for single family homes, condos, and apartments in each ZIP code. They describe what units are listed for, not what any specific unit will get. Condition, bedroom count, and the exact block all move the number.

If you are underwriting a purchase, use the ZIP figure rather than the city median, and then verify against live listings for the same bedroom count before you commit. Boulder sits in the Boulder, CO metro area.

Other Colorado cities

Would a rental in Boulder cash flow?

Start the analyzer with the Boulder median rent of $2,319 and add a real purchase price to see cash flow, cap rate, and cash-on-cash return.