Cheapest Cities to Rent in America
Discover the top 50 most affordable metro areas by 2-bedroom rent prices. These cities offer the best opportunities for budget-conscious renters.
| Rank | Metro Area | Studio | 1 Bed | 2 Bed | 3 Bed | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
#1 | Raleigh, NC NC | $715 | $719 | $944 | $1,313 | View → |
#2 | Austin, TX TX | $885 | $891 | $1,095 | $1,523 | View → |
#3 | St. Louis, MO MO | $955 | $995 | $1,218 | $1,568 | View → |
#4 | Cleveland, OH OH | $850 | $940 | $1,233 | $1,584 | View → |
#5 | Oklahoma City, OK OK | $939 | $1,017 | $1,244 | $1,675 | View → |
#6 | Birmingham, AL AL | $1,024 | $1,155 | $1,266 | $1,583 | View → |
#7 | Louisville, KY KY | $966 | $1,047 | $1,272 | $1,625 | View → |
#8 | Memphis, TN TN | $1,060 | $1,154 | $1,274 | $1,683 | View → |
#9 | Pittsburgh, PA PA | $1,001 | $1,077 | $1,299 | $1,661 | View → |
#10 | Greensboro, NC NC | $1,159 | $1,213 | $1,330 | $1,703 | View → |
#11 | New Orleans, LA LA | $964 | $1,113 | $1,331 | $1,701 | View → |
#12 | Milwaukee, WI WI | $1,027 | $1,119 | $1,338 | $1,648 | View → |
#13 | Buffalo, NY NY | $1,105 | $1,139 | $1,343 | $1,640 | View → |
#14 | Kansas City, MO MO | $1,095 | $1,197 | $1,358 | $1,769 | View → |
#15 | Detroit, MI MI | $1,009 | $1,122 | $1,411 | $1,724 | View → |
#16 | San Antonio, TX TX | $1,077 | $1,177 | $1,426 | $1,830 | View → |
#17 | Columbus, OH OH | $1,111 | $1,194 | $1,430 | $1,715 | View → |
#18 | Indianapolis, IN IN | $1,118 | $1,267 | $1,473 | $1,907 | View → |
#19 | Houston, TX TX | $1,280 | $1,323 | $1,573 | $2,116 | View → |
#20 | Richmond, VA VA | $1,442 | $1,507 | $1,655 | $2,072 | View → |
#21 | Jacksonville, FL FL | $1,355 | $1,382 | $1,658 | $2,043 | View → |
#22 | Charlotte, NC NC | $1,469 | $1,538 | $1,686 | $2,076 | View → |
#23 | Minneapolis, MN MN | $1,242 | $1,405 | $1,709 | $2,262 | View → |
#24 | Virginia Beach, VA VA | $1,492 | $1,512 | $1,713 | $2,376 | View → |
#25 | Providence, RI RI | $1,318 | $1,402 | $1,729 | $2,087 | View → |
#26 | Nashville, TN TN | $1,507 | $1,578 | $1,730 | $2,211 | View → |
#27 | Las Vegas, NV NV | $1,333 | $1,478 | $1,735 | $2,413 | View → |
#28 | Salt Lake City, UT UT | $1,259 | $1,456 | $1,747 | $2,333 | View → |
#29 | Chicago, IL IL | $1,480 | $1,581 | $1,781 | $2,294 | View → |
#30 | Philadelphia, PA PA | $1,397 | $1,520 | $1,810 | $2,170 | View → |
#31 | Atlanta, GA GA | $1,585 | $1,660 | $1,820 | $2,182 | View → |
#32 | Phoenix, AZ AZ | $1,457 | $1,583 | $1,839 | $2,452 | View → |
#33 | Baltimore, MD MD | $1,362 | $1,511 | $1,857 | $2,358 | View → |
#34 | Hartford, CT CT | $1,286 | $1,477 | $1,865 | $2,236 | View → |
#35 | Portland, OR OR | $1,570 | $1,677 | $1,922 | $2,619 | View → |
#36 | Dallas, TX TX | $1,582 | $1,648 | $1,931 | $2,431 | View → |
#37 | Orlando, FL FL | $1,650 | $1,731 | $1,972 | $2,476 | View → |
#38 | Tampa, FL FL | $1,593 | $1,696 | $1,977 | $2,527 | View → |
#39 | Denver, CO CO | $1,643 | $1,754 | $2,089 | $2,734 | View → |
#40 | Riverside, CA CA | $1,692 | $1,777 | $2,201 | $2,912 | View → |
#41 | Washington, DC DC | $1,953 | $2,015 | $2,246 | $2,835 | View → |
#42 | Sacramento, CA CA | $1,748 | $1,832 | $2,255 | $3,002 | View → |
#43 | Miami, FL FL | $1,828 | $1,995 | $2,436 | $3,127 | View → |
#44 | Seattle, WA WA | $2,074 | $2,146 | $2,501 | $3,272 | View → |
#45 | Los Angeles, CA CA | $1,863 | $2,085 | $2,601 | $3,298 | View → |
#46 | New York, NY NY | $2,529 | $2,655 | $2,910 | $3,644 | View → |
#47 | Boston, MA MA | $2,359 | $2,476 | $2,941 | $3,526 | View → |
#48 | San Diego, CA CA | $2,288 | $2,459 | $3,001 | $3,998 | View → |
#49 | San Jose, CA CA | $2,621 | $2,982 | $3,483 | $4,602 | View → |
#50 | San Francisco, CA CA | $2,485 | $2,977 | $3,604 | $4,604 | View → |
Why Are These Cities Affordable?
The most affordable rental markets in America share characteristics that keep housing costs low:
- Lower cost of living: Overall expenses including utilities, food, and transportation are typically lower in these markets
- Smaller metro populations: Less competitive rental markets with adequate housing supply relative to demand
- Diverse housing stock: Mix of older and newer buildings provides options at various price points
- Regional economies: Local job markets may offer lower salaries but better rent-to-income ratios than expensive coastal cities
- Growing opportunities: Many affordable cities are experiencing growth in tech, healthcare, and education sectors
Income Requirements
These affordable cities have much lower income requirements, making homeownership and saving money more achievable:
Benefits of Affordable Cities
Lower rent means more money for savings, retirement, and building wealth. Achieve financial goals faster.
Get more space and amenities for your money. Many affordable cities offer newer apartments and more square footage.
Lower cost of living reduces financial stress. Enjoy a better work-life balance and quality of life.
What to Consider
Job Market
Research local employment opportunities in your field. Lower rent is only beneficial if you can find good employment. Many affordable cities have growing job markets in healthcare, education, manufacturing, and remote-friendly industries.
Quality of Life
Consider factors beyond rent: climate, entertainment options, education quality, healthcare access, and safety. Many affordable cities offer excellent quality of life with lower stress and more community engagement.
Transportation
Affordable cities may have limited public transit, requiring a car. Factor in vehicle costs, insurance, and gas when comparing to expensive cities with robust public transportation.
Future Growth
Some affordable cities are experiencing rapid growth with improving job markets and amenities. Getting in early can position you well for future opportunities while maintaining low housing costs.