HUD Fair Market Rent · FY 2026 · effective Oct 1, 2025 to Sep 30, 2026
Fair Market Rent in Columbia County, Florida (FY 2026)
$1,318 a month. That's HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom in Columbia County, and it's the baseline every voucher in Columbia is measured against.
2 bedroom FMR
$1,318
FY 2026, utilities included
Payment standard range
$1,186 to $1,450
90% to 110% of FMR
Income to afford 2BR
$52,720
per year, at 30% of income
Rank in Florida
44th of 67
by 2BR FMR
HUD has already published FY 2027. On October 1, 2026 the two-bedroom rate in Columbia moves to $1,187. That's down 10%. The full FY 2027 table is in the history section below.
HUD's number is one input. What does a two-bedroom in Columbia actually rent for?
Search any address in Columbia for a rent estimate built from nearby comps, with the HUD figure right next to it.
FY 2026 Fair Market Rents
| Bedrooms | FMR | Payment standard | Income needed | Hourly wage | vs FY 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $990 | $891 to $1,089 | $39,600 | $19.04/hr | +21.5% |
| 1 bedroom | $1,034 | $931 to $1,137 | $41,360 | $19.88/hr | +26.1% |
| 2 bedroom | $1,318 | $1,186 to $1,450 | $52,720 | $25.35/hr | +22.5% |
| 3 bedroom | $1,580 | $1,422 to $1,738 | $63,200 | $30.38/hr | +21.1% |
| 4 bedroom | $1,745 | $1,571 to $1,920 | $69,800 | $33.56/hr | +22.3% |
5 to 8 bedrooms (PropMetrics estimates)
HUD stops at four bedrooms. These add 15% of the four-bedroom rent per extra bedroom. It's our estimate, not a HUD number.
| Bedrooms | Estimated FMR | Payment standard |
|---|---|---|
| 5 bedroom Estimate | $2,007 | $1,806 to $2,208 |
| 6 bedroom Estimate | $2,269 | $2,042 to $2,496 |
| 7 bedroom Estimate | $2,530 | $2,277 to $2,783 |
| 8 bedroom Estimate | $2,792 | $2,513 to $3,071 |
Source: HUD Office of Policy Development and Research, FY 2026 Fair Market Rents. Rents include utilities. huduser.gov
Fair Market Rent is HUD's estimate of what a modest, decent unit rents for in an area, utilities included. It's set once a year and runs October to September. For FY 2026 that's October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. In Columbia, that runs from $990 for a studio up to $1,745 for four bedrooms, all five rates in the table above.
Because Columbia sits outside any HUD metro area, its rate is a county-wide figure built from local rents. One number covers every address in the county, Lake City included.
Among Florida's 67 counties, Columbia ranks 44th for two-bedroom FMR. That's about 10% below the state median of $1,471 and about 29% above the national median county at $1,018. About 69,832 people live here, 41st in the state.
Rates by ZIP code
Zoom in and the picture changes. HUD's Small Area FMRs put a two-bedroom at $1,240 in 32055 (Lake City) and $1,500 in 32024 (Lake City), with the 6 ZIP codes in between. Housing authorities in HUD-designated metros use those ZIP rates instead of the county rate. Everywhere else the ZIP numbers show where rents actually sit, and the county rate stays the official standard.
What a voucher pays here
The voucher doesn't pay the FMR itself. It pays the payment standard. Housing authorities set it anywhere from 90% to 110% of FMR, which puts a two-bedroom standard in Columbia somewhere between $1,186 and $1,450. The tenant pays roughly 30% of their income, the voucher covers the rest up to the standard, and the PHA won't approve a rent above what comparable unassisted units get.
$1,318 a month is affordable, by HUD's 30% rule, on an income of roughly $52,720 a year. Put another way, $25 an hour full time.
Worked example for a two-bedroom, assuming the rent equals the payment standard. Tenant pays 30% of monthly income, HUD's housing assistance payment covers the rest.
| Monthly household income | Tenant pays (30%) | HAP at 90% ($1,186) | HAP at 100% ($1,318) | HAP at 110% ($1,450) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2,500 | $750 | $436 | $568 | $700 |
| $4,000 | $1,200 | $0 | $118 | $250 |
Rate history
The two-bedroom rate went up 22% from FY 2025 ($1,076) to FY 2026 ($1,318). Since FY 2020 it's up 50% in total, about 7.0% a year. The Florida median moved up 3% over the same year.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR | 2BR change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2020 | $651 | $677 | $879 | $1,151 | $1,191 | — |
| FY 2021 | $634 | $659 | $869 | $1,131 | $1,178 | -1.1% |
| FY 2022 | $614 | $663 | $873 | $1,105 | $1,184 | +0.5% |
| FY 2023 | $643 | $700 | $921 | $1,163 | $1,237 | +5.5% |
| FY 2024 | $788 | $793 | $1,042 | $1,268 | $1,388 | +13.1% |
| FY 2025 | $815 | $820 | $1,076 | $1,305 | $1,427 | +3.3% |
| FY 2026 | $990 | $1,034 | $1,318 | $1,580 | $1,745 | +22.5% |
| FY 2027 | $891 | $931 | $1,187 | $1,422 | $1,571 | -9.9% |
Nearby counties
Suwannee County
$1,11018 mi · pop 43,881
Union County
$1,13221 mi · pop 15,524
Baker County
$1,10324 mi · pop 27,969
Hamilton County
$98130 mi · pop 13,492
Bradford County
$1,12031 mi · pop 27,816
Gilchrist County
$1,49332 mi · pop 18,070
Lafayette County
$1,32335 mi · pop 8,107
Alachua County
$1,49336 mi · pop 279,729
Questions people ask
$1,318 a month for FY 2026, which runs October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. The other rates are $990 for a studio, $1,034 for one bedroom, $1,580 for three and $1,745 for four.
Tools for this county
Fair Market Rent lookup
Look up any ZIP code's Small Area FMR by bedroom count.
Section 8 rent calculator
Work out the payment standard and tenant share for a specific rent.
What is Fair Market Rent?
How HUD calculates FMR and what it means for landlords.
Rent affordability calculator
See what income a household needs for a given rent.
What does a rental in Columbia actually go for?
HUD's number is one input. Search any address in Columbia for a rent estimate built from nearby comps. 3 free searches, no card.
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