Top 25 US Cities Where Rent Is Still Under $1,500 a Month

No matter where one lives, or how high (or low) their income is, housing and rent is typically the most expensive outlay in a monthly budget. It’s also the most crucial, as we all need a roof over our heads.

However, as Zillow reported, rent and housing has increased far faster than American incomes have. Specifically, it was noted that an American renter in 2025 would need to save 5% of their overall income for 8.7 years in order to pay a 10% down payment for the average home; in 2019, it would have only taken 7.4 years.

With that in mind, there are many in the U.S. likely on the lookout for cities in which rent is still affordably in line with their income. Thankfully, Zillow also provided a list of such cities. GOBankingRates has taken from that list the locations with rent/housing costs less than $1,500 monthly, ranked from most expensive to least expensive.

• Median rent: $1,486
• Share of affordable apartments: 73.7%

• Median rent: $1,485
• Share of affordable apartments: 83.7%

• Median rent: $1,469
• Share of affordable apartments: 86.9%

• Median rent: $1,464
• Share of affordable apartments: 78.9%

• Median rent: $1,459
• Share of affordable apartments: 88.6%

• Median rent: $1,451
• Share of affordable apartments: 79.9%

• Median rent: $1,437
• Share of affordable apartments: 85.7%

• Median rent: $1,435
• Share of affordable apartments: 93.6%

• Median rent: $1,419
• Share of affordable apartments: 80.8%

• Median rent: $1,409
• Share of affordable apartments: 92.4%

• Median rent: $1,407
• Share of affordable apartments: 89.7%

• Median rent: $1,396
• Share of affordable apartments: 80.6%

• Median rent: $1,388
• Share of affordable apartments: 86.1%

• Median rent: $1,382
• Share of affordable apartments: 79.9%

• Median rent: $1,372
• Share of affordable apartments: 88.3%

• Median rent: $1,364
• Share of affordable apartments: 88.6%

• Median rent: $1,360
• Share of affordable apartments: 82.3%

• Median rent: $1,358
• Share of affordable apartments: 89.9%

• Median rent: $1,299
• Share of affordable apartments: 80.4%

• Median rent: $1,297
• Share of affordable apartments: 80.8%

• Median rent: $1,278
• Share of affordable apartments: 94.3%

• Median rent: $1,195
• Share of affordable apartments: 90.5%

• Median rent: $1,187
• Share of affordable apartments: 90.6%

• Median rent: $1,173
• Share of affordable apartments: 77.7%

• Median rent: $1,146
• Share of affordable apartments: 92.1%

Photo disclaimer: Imagery is representational and does not necessarily depict exact location listed.