How Much Apartment Can You Afford in 30 Different US Cities

Rent prices are on the rise in many major U.S. cities, and millions of Americans are having a tough time covering this expense. How much you’ll spend on rent largely depends on where you live and how much space you need or want. 

So, how much apartment can you afford in various big cities? GOBankingRates analyzed the largest cities by population, as sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey, that have a livability score of at least 75, which was sourced from AreaVibes. We found the average rent cost for an apartment with one bedroom, two bedrooms and the overall average as sourced from ApartmentList. Here’s a look at the cost of apartments around the U.S.

• Population total: 479,612 
• Household median income: $79,026 
• 1-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,201 
• 2-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,402 

Overall apartment average monthly rent: $1,502

• Population total: 489,201 
• Household median income: $70,202 
• 1-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,030 
• 2-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,259

Overall apartment average monthly rent: $1,204 

• Population total: 494,838  
• Household median income: $77,655 
• 1-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,542 
• 2-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,543 

Overall apartment average monthly rent: $1,538

• Population total: 503,390  
• Household median income: $73,766 
• 1-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,198 
• 2-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,347

Overall apartment average monthly rent: $1,375 

• Population total: 505,958 
• Household median income: $65,256 
• 1-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,120 
• 2-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,322

Overall apartment average monthly rent: $1,291 

• Population total: 573,299 
• Household median income: $49,733 
• 1-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $951 
• 2-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,135 

Overall apartment average monthly rent: $1,136

• Population total: 584,548 
• Household median income: $58,349 
• 1-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,209 
• 2-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,514 

Overall apartment average monthly rent: $1,429

• Population total: 644,835 
• Household median income: $66,356 
• 1-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,101 
• 2-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,336 

Overall apartment average monthly rent: $1,401

• Population total: 646,101 
• Household median income: $85,876 
• 1-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,408 
• 2-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,669 

Overall apartment average monthly rent: $1,549

• Population total: 665,945 
• Household median income: $89,212 
• 1-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $2,240 
• 2-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $2,359 

Overall apartment average monthly rent: $2,330 

• Population total: 670,587 
• Household median income: $101,722 
• 1-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $2,120 
• 2-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $2,177 

Overall apartment average monthly rent: $2,145

• Population total: 677,181 
• Household median income: $55,710 
• 1-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $903 
• 2-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,074 

Overall apartment average monthly rent: $1,138 

• Population total: 681,088 
• Household median income: $64,251 
• 1-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $857 
• 2-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,052 

Overall apartment average monthly rent: $1,068

• Population total: 684,103 
• Household median income: $71,328 
• 1-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,273 
• 2-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,416 

Overall apartment average monthly rent: $1,421

• Population total: 734,603 
• Household median income: $116,068 
• 1-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,895 
• 2-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $2,365 

Overall apartment average monthly rent: $2,031

• Population total: 851,036
• Household median income: $136,689 
• 1-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $2,698 
• 2-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $3,198

Overall apartment average monthly rent: $2,673

• Population total: 875,045 
• Household median income: $74,070 
• 1-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,303 
• 2-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,421 

Overall apartment average monthly rent: $1,433

• Population total: 882,006  
• Household median income: $59,110 
• 1-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,041 
• 2-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,233 

Overall apartment average monthly rent: $1,210

• Population total: 902,449 
• Household median income: $62,994 
• 1-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,092 
• 2-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,331 

Overall apartment average monthly rent: $1,296

• Population total: 924,663 
• Household median income: $72,726 
• 1-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,179 
• 2-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,361 

Overall apartment average monthly rent: $1,381

• Population total: 950,203 
• Household median income: $64,138 
• 1-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,140 
• 2-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,359 

Overall apartment average monthly rent: $1,391

• Population total: 958,202 
• Household median income: $86,556 
• 1-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,302 
• 2-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,585 

Overall apartment average monthly rent: $1,470

• Population total: 1,001,176 
• Household median income: $136,010 
• 1-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $2,429 
• 2-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $2,882

Overall apartment average monthly rent: $2,792 

• Population total: 1,300,642 
• Household median income: $63,985 
• 1-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,237 
• 2-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,464 

Overall apartment average monthly rent: $1,354

• Population total: 1,383,987 
• Household median income: $98,657 
• 1-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,968 
• 2-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $2,466 

Overall apartment average monthly rent: $2,309

• Population total: 1,445,662 
• Household median income: $59,593 
• 1-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,033 
• 2-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,272 

Overall apartment average monthly rent: $1,209 

• Population total: 1,593,208 
• Household median income: $57,537 
• 1-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,289 
• 2-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,491 

Overall apartment average monthly rent: $1,410

• Population total: 1,609,456 
• Household median income: $72,092 
• 1-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,168 
• 2-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,393 

Overall apartment average monthly rent: $1,363  

• Population total: 2,721,914 
• Household median income: $71,673 
• 1-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,560 
• 2-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $1,699 

Overall apartment average monthly rent: $1,683

• Population total: 8,622,467 
• Household median income: $76,607 
• 1-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $2,197 
• 2-bedroom apartment average monthly rent: $2,317 

Overall apartment average monthly rent: $2,302 

Methodology. For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed the largest cities by population as sourced from the US Census American Community Survey. For each city, a number of factors were found including; total population, total households, median household income all sourced from the US Census American Community Survey, the cost of living indexes as sourced from Sperlings BestPlaces, the livability index as sourced from AreaVibes, and the average rent cost for an apartment with one bedroom, two bedrooms, and the overall average as sourced from ApartmentList. Using the national average expenditure costs for all residents, the average expenditure cost for each city can be calculated. Combining the average rent cost with the average expenditure cost gives a total average cost of living for each city at different bedroom sizes. Cities with a livability index below 75 were removed as they represent cities with a below average quality of living. The cities were sorted to show the most populated cities to the least in order to show how much apartment you can afford in different US cities. All data was collected on and is up-to-date as-of May 29th, 2024.