Average Rent in Olympia, WA (2026)

Typical asking rent in Olympia is $2,032. Across the 5 ZIP codes with data it runs from $1,941 to $2,335, so which side of town you buy on matters as much as the city average. Data as of July 2026.

Median rent
$2,032
Average rent
$2,059
Lowest ZIP
$1,941
Highest ZIP
$2,335

Rent by ZIP code in Olympia

ZIP codeCountyTypical rentvs city median
98513Thurston County$2,335+15%
98506Thurston County$2,047+1%
98512Thurston County$2,0320%
98501Thurston County$1,941-4%
98502Thurston County$1,941-4%

Rent by bedroom count in Olympia

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 Thurston 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$1,586+3.1%
1 bedroom$1,656-1.5%
2 bedroom$1,946-0.7%
3 bedroom$2,541-2.8%
4 bedroom$3,141-4.5%

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

Is rent going up or down in Olympia?

Typical rent across Thurston County is $2,080 as of August 2026. That is up 1.7% from a year earlier and up 19.8% over five years.

YearTypical rent, Thurston CountyChange
2021$1,819+15.1%
2022$1,868+2.7%
2023$1,940+3.9%
2024$1,984+2.3%
2025$2,068+4.2%
2026 (through August)$2,080+0.6%

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.

Olympia rent questions

What is the average rent in Olympia, WA?
Typical asking rent in Olympia is $2,032 a month as of July 2026, across 5 ZIP codes. By ZIP code it runs from $1,941 to $2,335.
How much is rent for a 2 bedroom in Olympia?
HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two bedroom in Thurston County is $1,946 a month including utilities. A one bedroom is $1,656 and a three bedroom is $2,541. Fair Market Rent is set near the 40th percentile, so a typical unit lists somewhat higher.
Is rent going up or down in Olympia?
Rent is rising. Typical rent in Thurston County is $2,080 as of August 2026, up 1.7% from a year earlier.
What is the cheapest ZIP code to rent in Olympia?
ZIP 98501 has the lowest typical asking rent in Olympia at $1,941 a month, compared with $2,032 for the city overall.
How much income do you need to rent in Olympia?
Most landlords look for gross income of about three times the rent. At the typical Olympia rent of $2,032, that is about $6,096 a month, or $73,152 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. Olympia sits in the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metro area.

Other Washington cities

Would a rental in Olympia cash flow?

Start the analyzer with the Olympia median rent of $2,032 and add a real purchase price to see cash flow, cap rate, and cash-on-cash return.