FY2027 Fair Market Rent · California
San Luis Obispo County Fair Market Rent & Income Limits
HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in San Luis Obispo County, CA is $2,720 a month, up 1.8% from FY2026. The area median family income is $129,600, and a family of four counts as low income up to $122,400 a year.
Fair Market Rent by unit size
FY2027 FY2026
Fair Market Rents are gross rents: rent plus the cost of all utilities except phone, cable and internet.
Check your household
Enter your household size and total yearly income before taxes to see which HUD income category it falls in for San Luis Obispo County, CA.
Low income (80% limit)
A household of 4 earning $120,400 is under the 80% limit of $122,400 for this area. At 30% of income it could pay about $3,010 a month for rent and utilities.
This is a quick comparison with HUD's published limits, not an eligibility decision. Programs count income in their own ways and many have waiting lists; the local housing agency or property decides.
Income limits in San Luis Obispo County
HUD's FY2026 income limits for San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA are based on a median family income of $129,600. Programs such as Housing Choice Vouchers, public housing and HOME use the 30%, 50% and 80% columns; Low-Income Housing Tax Credit properties use the 50% and 60% Multifamily Tax Subsidy Project limits.
| People | Extremely low30% / poverty | Very low50% | 60% (LIHTC)MTSP | Low income80% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $32,100 | $53,500 | $64,200 | $85,700 |
| 2 | $36,700 | $61,150 | $73,380 | $97,950 |
| 3 | $41,300 | $68,800 | $82,560 | $110,200 |
| 4 | $45,850 | $76,450 | $91,740 | $122,400 |
| 5 | $49,550 | $82,550 | $99,060 | $132,200 |
| 6 | $53,200 | $88,700 | $106,440 | $142,000 |
| 7 | $56,900 | $94,800 | $113,760 | $151,800 |
| 8 | $60,550 | $100,900 | $121,080 | $161,600 |
Rent history
Since FY2017 the two-bedroom FMR here has gone from $1,309 to $2,720, up 107.8% over ten years. HUD has published a two-bedroom FMR for this area since FY1983, when it was $466.
What it takes to afford the rent
To keep a two-bedroom rent of $2,720 at no more than 30% of income, the usual affordability rule, a household needs about $108,800 a year. That is 84% of the area median family income of $129,600, so the rent is within reach of a median family but not of a low-income one.
| Unit | FY2027 | FY2026 | FY2025 | Income to affordat 30% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,894 | $1,842 | $1,669 | $75,800 |
| 1 bedroom | $2,079 | $2,036 | $1,855 | $83,200 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,720 | $2,671 | $2,434 | $108,800 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,634 | $3,584 | $3,250 | $145,400 |
| 4 bedrooms | $4,208 | $4,105 | $3,683 | $168,300 |
How San Luis Obispo County compares
San Luis Obispo County makes up the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA metro area on its own, so HUD's metro figures and the county figures are the same.
San Luis Obispo County has the 15th highest two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of the 58 counties in California; the population-weighted average across California is $2,632 and the nationwide average is $1,751.
Small Area FMRs by ZIP code
HUD also publishes Small Area Fair Market Rents for each ZIP code. In San Luis Obispo County the two-bedroom figure ranges from $2,410 to $3,720 across 34 ZIP codes, against the area-wide $2,720. This area is not on HUD's list of mandatory Small Area FMR areas, so most agencies here use the area-wide FMR; an agency may still opt in to ZIP-level rents.
| ZIP | Place | 2 BR SAFMR | 110% payment std. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 93465 | Templeton | $3,720 | $4,092 |
| 93449 | Pismo Beach | $3,220 | $3,542 |
| 93401 | San Luis Obispo | $3,070 | $3,377 |
| 93420 | Arroyo Grande | $2,960 | $3,256 |
| 93444 | Nipomo | $2,890 | $3,179 |
| 93432 | Creston | $2,840 | $3,124 |
| 93424 | Avila Beach | $2,830 | $3,113 |
| 93405 | San Luis Obispo | $2,820 | $3,102 |
| 93407 | San Luis Obispo | $2,820 | $3,102 |
| 93408 | San Luis Obispo | $2,820 | $3,102 |
| 93409 | San Luis Obispo | $2,820 | $3,102 |
| 93410 | San Luis Obispo | $2,820 | $3,102 |
| 93402 | Los Osos | $2,740 | $3,014 |
| 93403 | San Luis Obispo | $2,720 | $2,992 |
| 93406 | San Luis Obispo | $2,720 | $2,992 |
| 93412 | Los Osos | $2,720 | $2,992 |
| 93421 | Arroyo Grande | $2,720 | $2,992 |
| 93423 | Atascadero | $2,720 | $2,992 |
| 93433 | Grover Beach | $2,720 | $2,992 |
| 93435 | Harmony | $2,720 | $2,992 |
| 93443 | Morro Bay | $2,720 | $2,992 |
| 93446 | Paso Robles | $2,720 | $2,992 |
| 93447 | Paso Robles | $2,720 | $2,992 |
| 93448 | Pismo Beach | $2,720 | $2,992 |
| 93475 | Oceano | $2,720 | $2,992 |
| 93483 | Grover Beach | $2,720 | $2,992 |
| 93428 | Cambria | $2,680 | $2,948 |
| 93453 | Santa Margarita | $2,670 | $2,937 |
| 93422 | Atascadero | $2,610 | $2,871 |
| 93442 | Morro Bay | $2,580 | $2,838 |
| 93461 | Shandon | $2,470 | $2,717 |
| 93430 | Cayucos | $2,410 | $2,651 |
| 93445 | Oceano | $2,410 | $2,651 |
| 93452 | San Simeon | $2,410 | $2,651 |
Questions
What is the Fair Market Rent in San Luis Obispo County, CA for 2027?
For FY2027 (October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027) HUD's Fair Market Rents in San Luis Obispo County, CA are $1,894 for a studio, $2,079 for one bedroom, $2,720 for two bedrooms, $3,634 for three and $4,208 for four bedrooms, per month including utilities.
What is the area median income in San Luis Obispo County, CA?
HUD's FY2026 median family income for the area is $129,600, up 7.2% from $120,900 in FY2025.
What is 80% of AMI in San Luis Obispo County, CA for a family of 4?
The FY2026 low-income limit (80%) for a household of four is $122,400 a year. The very low-income limit (50%) is $76,450 and the extremely low-income limit is $45,850.
What is the 60% AMI limit for tax credit housing in San Luis Obispo County, CA?
Under HUD's FY2026 Multifamily Tax Subsidy Project limits, the 60% limit is $64,200 for one person and $91,740 for four.
Is the Fair Market Rent the same as the Section 8 payment standard?
No. Housing agencies set their payment standard between 90% and 110% of the FMR (for a two-bedroom here: $2,448 to $2,992), and can ask HUD for exceptions. Check the payment standard with your local housing agency.