Average Rent in Detroit, MI (2026)

Typical asking rent in Detroit is $1,305. Across the 19 ZIP codes with data it runs from $1,023 to $2,042, so which side of town you buy on matters as much as the city average. Data as of September 2026.

Median rent
$1,305
Average rent
$1,352
Lowest ZIP
$1,023
Highest ZIP
$2,042

Rent by ZIP code in Detroit

ZIP codeCountyTypical rentvs city median
48226Wayne County$2,042+56%
48216Wayne County$1,686+29%
48201Wayne County$1,568+20%
48207Wayne County$1,439+10%
48202Wayne County$1,411+8%
48227Wayne County$1,376+5%
48235Wayne County$1,367+5%
48219Wayne County$1,363+4%
48213Wayne County$1,356+4%
48224Wayne County$1,3050%
48221Wayne County$1,3030%
48205Wayne County$1,276-2%
48234Wayne County$1,274-2%
48238Wayne County$1,247-4%
48206Wayne County$1,227-6%
48228Wayne County$1,174-10%
48204Wayne County$1,128-14%
48214Wayne County$1,114-15%
48223Wayne County$1,023-22%

Rent by bedroom count in Detroit

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 Wayne 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. Wayne County uses Small Area FMRs, and the two bedroom figure runs from $1,120 to $2,170 depending on the Detroit ZIP code.

Unit sizeFY2027 Fair Market RentChange from FY2026
Studio$1,047+3.8%
1 bedroom$1,167+4.0%
2 bedroom$1,459+3.4%
3 bedroom$1,777+3.1%
4 bedroom$1,929+3.3%

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

Is rent going up or down in Detroit?

Typical rent across Wayne County is $1,402 as of September 2026. That is up 4.7% from a year earlier and up 23.5% over five years.

YearTypical rent, Wayne CountyChange
2021$1,171+13.9%
2022$1,235+5.5%
2023$1,276+3.3%
2024$1,347+5.6%
2025$1,350+0.2%
2026 (through September)$1,402+3.9%

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.

Detroit rent questions

What is the average rent in Detroit, MI?
Typical asking rent in Detroit is $1,305 a month as of September 2026, across 19 ZIP codes. By ZIP code it runs from $1,023 to $2,042.
How much is rent for a 2 bedroom in Detroit?
HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two bedroom in Wayne County is $1,459 a month including utilities. A one bedroom is $1,167 and a three bedroom is $1,777. Fair Market Rent is set near the 40th percentile, so a typical unit lists somewhat higher.
Is rent going up or down in Detroit?
Rent is rising. Typical rent in Wayne County is $1,402 as of September 2026, up 4.7% from a year earlier.
What is the cheapest ZIP code to rent in Detroit?
ZIP 48223 has the lowest typical asking rent in Detroit at $1,023 a month, compared with $1,305 for the city overall.
How much income do you need to rent in Detroit?
Most landlords look for gross income of about three times the rent. At the typical Detroit rent of $1,305, that is about $3,915 a month, or $46,980 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. Detroit sits in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area.

Other Michigan cities

Would a rental in Detroit cash flow?

Start the analyzer with the Detroit median rent of $1,305 and add a real purchase price to see cash flow, cap rate, and cash-on-cash return.