True Cost of Renting in Jackson

Jackson Hole is where American wealth goes to ski — a resort town surrounded by Grand Teton National Park with the steepest Gini coefficient of any county in America (Teton County, WY). The rental market is dominated by the collision between ski resort service workers who can't afford housing and wealthy out-of-state second-home buyers who've removed units from the long-term rental market. Workers commute from 45 miles away in Alpine or Victor, ID because Jackson itself has virtually no affordable housing.

Neighborhoods & Average Rents

Downtown Jackson / Town Square

Studio:
$2,500/mo
1 Bed:
$3,200/mo
2 Bed:
$5,000/mo

Jackson's historic town square near the antler arches; walking distance to ski buses and the National Elk Refuge. The few long-term rentals in this area are extremely rare and expensive. Most units in this zone are short-term vacation rentals at $300–500/night.

South Jackson / Wilson area

Studio:
$1,800/mo
1 Bed:
$2,500/mo
2 Bed:
$4,000/mo

Slightly more affordable fringe areas south of central Jackson; still deeply constrained by resort demand. Employee housing programs from the Town of Jackson provide below-market units for qualifying local workers. Limited supply.

Utility Providers

Electric
Lower Valley Energy (rural electric cooperative)
Water
Town of Jackson Water
Internet
Spectrum, Starlink, Rise Broadband

Commute & Transportation

US-191/26/89 is the primary highway through Jackson. WY-22 over Teton Pass connects to Driggs and Victor, Idaho (alternative housing market). Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) is within Grand Teton National Park — the only commercial airport inside a national park. The START Bus (Southern Teton Area Rapid Transit) provides free service between Jackson and Teton Village (ski resort base). Many resort employees live in Alpine, WY (45 min) or Driggs, ID (45 min over Teton Pass).

Rental Market Overview

Jackson has one of the most dysfunctional rental markets in America. Short-term rental platforms and billionaire land banking have removed the vast majority of would-be rental units from the long-term market. Teton County's year-round population is only 23,000 but summer and winter tourist populations dwarf that. Lower Valley Energy (a rural electric cooperative) provides power at competitive rates. The Town of Jackson operates a community housing trust, but it addresses a tiny fraction of need. Service industry workers are effectively subsidized by employers through employee housing or must commute from Idaho. Renters insurance averages $16–22/month.

Data last updated: 2026-04

Compare Apartments in Jackson

Enter your rental options below to see the true all-in monthly cost.

Renting in Jackson: Common Questions

What is the average rent in Jackson?
One-bedroom apartments in Jackson range from $2,500/month in South Jackson / Wilson area to $3,200/month in Downtown Jackson / Town Square. Two-bedroom units range from $4,000 to $5,000/month. These are base rents — add fees, utilities, and amenity costs to get the true all-in monthly cost.
What utilities do I need to set up in Jackson?
In Jackson, electricity is provided by Lower Valley Energy (rural electric cooperative), water by Town of Jackson Water, and common internet providers include Spectrum, Starlink, Rise Broadband. Lower Valley Energy (rural electric cooperative) is publicly owned rather than investor-owned, which in many cities means somewhat lower and more predictable rates than a neighboring market served by a private utility.
What neighborhoods are affordable in Jackson?
South Jackson / Wilson area is the most affordable of the 2 Jackson neighborhoods covered here, at $2,500/month for a one-bedroom — $700 less than Downtown Jackson / Town Square, roughly a 22% gap. That swing is often bigger than any fee or amenity difference between two buildings in the same neighborhood, which is why comparing across neighborhoods matters as much as comparing within one.
Is Jackson expensive to rent in?
Across the 2 neighborhoods covered here, the average one-bedroom in Jackson runs about $2,850/month before fees, utilities, and amenities are added — and those add-ons are exactly what a bare average hides. Jackson has one of the most dysfunctional rental markets in America. Run the specific units you are considering through RentCompare to see the true all-in monthly cost rather than relying on an area average.

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