Average Rent in Athens, GA (2026)

Typical asking rent in Athens is $1,738. Across the 4 ZIP codes with data it runs from $1,596 to $1,946, so which side of town you buy on matters as much as the city average. Data as of September 2026.

Median rent
$1,738
Average rent
$1,754
Lowest ZIP
$1,596
Highest ZIP
$1,946

Rent by ZIP code in Athens

ZIP codeCountyTypical rentvs city median
30601Clarke County$1,946+12%
30605Clarke County$1,777+2%
30606Clarke County$1,698-2%
30607Clarke County$1,596-8%

Rent by bedroom count in Athens

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 Clarke 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$1,097-5.3%
1 bedroom$1,103-6.8%
2 bedroom$1,285-3.5%
3 bedroom$1,610-7.2%
4 bedroom$1,689-7.8%

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

Is rent going up or down in Athens?

Typical rent across Clarke County is $1,758 as of September 2026. That is up 2.7% from a year earlier and up 42.5% over five years.

YearTypical rent, Clarke CountyChange
2021$1,269+13.0%
2022$1,396+10.0%
2023$1,509+8.1%
2024$1,556+3.1%
2025$1,720+10.6%
2026 (through September)$1,758+2.2%

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.

Athens rent questions

What is the average rent in Athens, GA?
Typical asking rent in Athens is $1,738 a month as of September 2026, across 4 ZIP codes. By ZIP code it runs from $1,596 to $1,946.
How much is rent for a 2 bedroom in Athens?
HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two bedroom in Clarke County is $1,285 a month including utilities. A one bedroom is $1,103 and a three bedroom is $1,610. Fair Market Rent is set near the 40th percentile, so a typical unit lists somewhat higher.
Is rent going up or down in Athens?
Rent is rising. Typical rent in Clarke County is $1,758 as of September 2026, up 2.7% from a year earlier.
What is the cheapest ZIP code to rent in Athens?
ZIP 30607 has the lowest typical asking rent in Athens at $1,596 a month, compared with $1,738 for the city overall.
How much income do you need to rent in Athens?
Most landlords look for gross income of about three times the rent. At the typical Athens rent of $1,738, that is about $5,214 a month, or $62,568 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. Athens sits in the Athens-Clarke County, GA metro area.

Other Georgia cities

Would a rental in Athens cash flow?

Start the analyzer with the Athens median rent of $1,738 and add a real purchase price to see cash flow, cap rate, and cash-on-cash return.