30 Cities for Renters Where Your Income Goes the Furthest

You may have seen the headline browsing through your phone.

“Rent in this city now averages $2,700 per month” – or whatever the figure is.

And you think to yourself, how can anyone afford to live there? It’s a good question, and the people at RentCafe have the answer. A 2024 study by the group, which analyzes the rental market, showed that high rent often comes with a high annual income in that same locale.

RentCafe found 30 cities where renters can maximize their income – where the rent and monthly expenses don’t overwhelm their budget – even if the rental price is above the national median of $2,138 as of June 2024.

In its analysis, RentCafe used the median income, average rent and average prices for the basics in 189 cities across the United States in its calculation. The cost of things such as utilities, food and healthcare are limited to specific bills. These certain grocery items frequently appear in a shopping cart and specific medical procedures, and they don’t reflect average monthly spending.

RentCafe found that some places where rent is most easily affordable are traditionally expensive places to live, including the suburbs around Silicon Valley and Washington, D.C., where incomes are commensurate.

Read on to learn the 30 cities where a renter’s money can go the farthest.

• Average renter household income: $49,707
• Monthly rent: $1,181
• Utilities: $450
• Food: $67
• Healthcare: $397

Pictured: Wilmington, NC

• Average renter household income: $64,681
• Monthly rent: $1,975
• Utilities: $331
• Food: $63
• Healthcare: $354

• Average renter household income: $50,311
• Monthly rent: $1,271
• Utilities: $348
• Food: $65
• Healthcare: $319

• Average renter household income: $62,288
• Monthly rent: $1,711
• Utilities: $362
• Food: $69
• Healthcare: $401

• Average renter household income: $42,808
• Monthly rent: $996
• Utilities: $297
• Food: $64
• Healthcare: $346

• Average renter household income: $40,603
• Monthly rent: $927
• Utilities: $355
• Food: $64
• Healthcare: $319

• Average renter household income: $53,544
• Monthly rent: $1,544
• Utilities: $326
• Food: $62
• Healthcare: $295

• Average renter household income: $79,285
• Monthly rent: $2,252
• Utilities: $390
• Food: $80
• Healthcare: $524

• Average renter household income: $48,803
• Monthly rent: $1,214
• Utilities: $349
• Food: $66
• Healthcare: $277

• Average renter household income: $55,283
• Monthly rent: $1,396
• Utilities: $363
• Food: $66
• Healthcare: $350

• Average renter household income: $48,233
• Monthly rent: $1,093
• Utilities: $311
• Food: $68
• Healthcare: $405

• Average renter household income: $62,814
• Monthly rent: $1,737
• Utilities: $425
• Food: $59
• Healthcare: $366

Pictured: Frisco, TX

• Average renter household income: $60,227
• Monthly rent: $1,578
• Utilities: $332
• Food: $69
• Healthcare: $424

• Average renter household income: $92,952
• Monthly rent: $2,974
• Utilities: $440
• Food: $74
• Healthcare: $446

• Average renter household income: $66,681
• Monthly rent: $1,784
• Utilities: $358
• Food: $59
• Healthcare: $368

• Average renter household income: $42,864
• Monthly rent: $830
• Utilities: $354
• Food: $63
• Healthcare: $404

Pictured: Oklahoma City

• Average renter household income: $48,819
• Monthly rent: $1,045
• Utilities: $321
• Food: $64
• Healthcare: $408

• Average renter household income: $109,274
• Monthly rent: $3,297
• Utilities: $476
• Food: $84
• Healthcare: $489

• Average renter household income: $66,479
• Monthly rent: $1,657
• Utilities: $405
• Food: $55
• Healthcare: $295

• Average renter household income: $45,625
• Monthly rent: $855
• Utilities: $357
• Food: $60
• Healthcare: $299

Pictured: Little Rock, AR

• Average renter household income: $54,594
• Monthly rent: $1,117
• Utilities: $357
• Food: $62
• Healthcare: $335

• Average renter household income: $76,824
• Monthly rent: $1,786
• Utilities: $429
• Food: $64
• Healthcare: $413

• Average renter household income: $68,517
• Monthly rent: $1,574
• Utilities: $397
• Food: $55
• Healthcare: $343

• Average renter household income: $82,865
• Monthly rent: $2,084
• Utilities: $321
• Food: $65
• Healthcare: $377

• Average renter household income: $75,841
• Monthly rent: $1,864
• Utilities: $307
• Food: $58
• Healthcare: $289

• Average renter household income: $89,845
• Monthly rent: $2,068
• Utilities: $363
• Food: $73
• Healthcare: $395

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• Average renter household income: $99,315
• Monthly rent: $2,684
• Utilities: $404
• Food: $73
• Healthcare: $298

• Average renter household income: $102,710
• Monthly rent: $2,494
• Utilities: $362
• Food: $75
• Healthcare: $408

• Average renter household income: $86,236
• Monthly rent: $1,781
• Utilities: $452
• Food: $59
• Healthcare: $269

• Average renter household income: $145,723
• Monthly rent: $3,013
• Utilities: $386
• Food: $90
• Healthcare: $516