8 US Metros Where Rent Will Be More Affordable for Minimum-Wage Earners in 2025

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According to a recent study from Realtor.com, minimum wages in 23 of the top 50 markets were set to increase at the beginning of the year, which could make rent payments more affordable for minimum-wage earners.

The report also found that the median asking price for rent in 2025 is projected to decline by 0.1%, which could also offer relief on renters’ budgets. 

The following are eight metro areas where minimum wages are going up, making rent more affordable on fewer hours worked. According to the study, here is a look at the median asking rent as of November 2024, the minimum wage in November 2024, the new minimum wage as of January 2025, the weekly work hours per renter at minimum wage for November 2024, and the difference in hours required to pay rent between November 2024 and January 2025.

Also see why renters can get more space for their money now than in 2022.

St. Louis, Missouri-Illinois

• Median asking rent (November 2024): $1,323
• Minimum wage (November 2024): $12.30
• Minimum wage (January 2025): $13.75
• Work hours per renter per week at minimum wage (November 2024): 41
• Difference in hours required to pay rent: -4

Kansas City, Missouri-Kansas

• Median asking rent (November 2024): $1,342
• Minimum wage (November 2024): $12.30
• Minimum wage (January 2025): $13.75
• Work hours per renter per week at minimum wage (November 2024): 42
• Difference in hours required to pay rent: -4

Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, California

• Median asking rent (November 2024): $1,902
• Minimum wage (November 2024): $16.00
• Minimum wage (January 2025): $16.50
• Work hours per renter per week at minimum wage (November 2024): 46
• Difference in hours required to pay rent: -2

Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, Virginia-North Carolina

• Median asking rent (November 2024): $1,500
• Minimum wage (November 2024): $12.00
• Minimum wage (January 2025): $12.41
• Work hours per renter per week at minimum wage (November 2024): 48
• Difference in hours required to pay rent: -2

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, California

• Median asking rent (November 2024): $2,074
• Minimum wage (November 2024): $16.00
• Minimum wage (January 2025): $16.50
• Work hours per renter per week at minimum wage (November 2024): 50
• Difference in hours required to pay rent: -2

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, California

• Median asking rent (November 2024): $2,711
• Minimum wage (November 2024): $16.00
• Minimum wage (January 2025): $16.50
• Work hours per renter per week at minimum wage (November 2024): 65
• Difference in hours required to pay rent: -2

New York-Newark-Jersey City, New York-New Jersey-Pennsylvania

• Median asking rent (November 2024): $2,905
• Minimum wage (November 2024): $16.00
• Minimum wage (January 2025): $16.50
• Work hours per renter per week at minimum wage (November 2024): 70
• Difference in hours required to pay rent: -2

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, California

• Median asking rent (November 2024): $3,314
• Minimum wage (November 2024): $17.55
• Minimum wage (January 2025): $17.95
• Work hours per renter per week at minimum wage (November 2024): 73
• Difference in hours required to pay rent: -2

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