Illinois Rental Market Trends
Last updated: September 17, 2026 | Source: RentCafe Market Analysis, Yardi Matrix, U.S. Census Bureau
Highlights
The average rent for an apartment in Illinois is $2,038, a 3.2% increase compared to the previous year, when the average rent was $1,975.
Studio Apartments at $1,672 offer the most budget-friendly option with 468 square feet, ideal for single renters prioritizing location over space.
One-bedroom apartments provide 720 square feet for $1,939, balancing privacy and affordability.
Two-bedroom units at $2,152 offer 1,026 square feet, perfect for roommates or small families.
Three-bedroom apartments deliver maximum space (1,322 sq ft) for $2,731, suitable for larger households.
Average rent in Illinois
Last updated: September 17, 2026
| Average Rent | Average Apartment Size | |
|---|---|---|
| All Rentals | $2,038 | 839 sq. ft. |
| Studio | $1,672 | 468 sq. ft. |
| 1 Bed | $1,939 | 720 sq. ft. |
| 2 Beds | $2,152 | 1,026 sq. ft. |
| 3 Beds | $2,731 | 1,322 sq. ft. |
Illinois rent trends
What's the typical rent budget in Illinois?
The largest share of rentals in Illinois (31%) fall between $1,501-$2,000 per month. This suggests that most people succesfully find suitable apartments within this price.
Do most people rent or own in Illinois?
1,657,539 or 33% of the households in Illinois are renter-occupied while 3,378,910 or 67% are owner-occupied.
How Illinois Compares to Other States
| State | Average Rent | Average Apartment Size |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $1,317 | 991 sq. ft. |
| Arizona | $1,560 | 863 sq. ft. |
| Arkansas | $1,144 | 895 sq. ft. |
| California | $2,629 | 853 sq. ft. |
| Colorado | $1,815 | 876 sq. ft. |
| Connecticut | $2,145 | 898 sq. ft. |
| Delaware | $1,686 | 921 sq. ft. |
| District of Columbia | $2,451 | 747 sq. ft. |
| Florida | $1,967 | 982 sq. ft. |
| Georgia | $1,633 | 1,026 sq. ft. |
| Idaho | $1,660 | 929 sq. ft. |
| Illinois | $2,038 | 839 sq. ft. |
| Indiana | $1,329 | 908 sq. ft. |
| Iowa | $1,231 | 897 sq. ft. |
| Kansas | $1,315 | 909 sq. ft. |
| Kentucky | $1,325 | 932 sq. ft. |
| Louisiana | $1,256 | 924 sq. ft. |
| Maine | $2,057 | 837 sq. ft. |
| Maryland | $1,877 | 907 sq. ft. |
| Massachusetts | $2,825 | 881 sq. ft. |
| Michigan | $1,400 | 920 sq. ft. |
| Minnesota | $1,640 | 892 sq. ft. |
| Mississippi | $1,328 | 1,010 sq. ft. |
| Missouri | $1,343 | 900 sq. ft. |
| Montana | $1,698 | 887 sq. ft. |
| Nebraska | $1,352 | 934 sq. ft. |
| Nevada | $1,541 | 909 sq. ft. |
| New Hampshire | $2,145 | 877 sq. ft. |
| New Jersey | $2,412 | 871 sq. ft. |
| New Mexico | $1,392 | 831 sq. ft. |
| New York | $2,394 | 890 sq. ft. |
| North Carolina | $1,546 | 978 sq. ft. |
| North Dakota | $1,165 | 964 sq. ft. |
| Ohio | $1,334 | 900 sq. ft. |
| Oklahoma | $1,065 | 859 sq. ft. |
| Oregon | $1,736 | 845 sq. ft. |
| Pennsylvania | $1,782 | 889 sq. ft. |
| Rhode Island | $2,175 | 919 sq. ft. |
| South Carolina | $1,617 | 1,015 sq. ft. |
| South Dakota | $1,204 | 912 sq. ft. |
| Tennessee | $1,525 | 953 sq. ft. |
| Texas | $1,463 | 889 sq. ft. |
| Utah | $1,610 | 929 sq. ft. |
| Virginia | $1,984 | 923 sq. ft. |
| Washington | $2,028 | 829 sq. ft. |
| Wisconsin | $1,602 | 919 sq. ft. |
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Where this data comes from
The rental statistics on this page were compiled by RentCafe.com, a nationwide apartment search website trusted by millions of renters to find apartments and houses for rent throughout the U.S.
Rent prices, trends, and apartment sizes were calculated based on data from our sister company, Yardi Matrix, an apartment market intelligence solution that covers approximately 90% of the U.S. metro area population. The data includes comprehensive information on all Illinois apartment buildings with 50 or more units, totaling 23.5 million apartments across 181 U.S. markets.
Housing composition data was sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau, using the most recently available information by tenure.