The Salary You Need To Afford To Rent a 2-Bedroom in Every State

Renting a two-bedroom apartment for under $1,000 a month is still possible in some parts of the U.S., even amid the ever-rising cost of living.

Sub-$1,000 rents have been tougher to find since rental costs soared during the pandemic. According to the latest data from ApartmentList, the average cost to rent a two-bedroom in the U.S. was $1,362 a month in February (the most recent figures available). Only six states posted averages of less than $1,000.

So how much money do you have to make to pull off renting a two-bedroom these days?

To compile a rundown of state-by-state averages, GOBankingRates sourced monthly and annual rental costs for two-bedroom apartments from ApartmentList. GBR then applied the general guideline of limiting your housing costs to 30% of your annual income, which produced the minimum salary needed on average for each state.

For perspective, the average cost to rent a two-bedroom apartment in the U.S. is $16,344 a year. Based on these numbers, the average minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom in the U.S. is $54,480 a year.

In one state, you can pull it off if you make just over $35,000 a year. In another, you’ll need to make more than $90,000. Note that this study doesn’t include Maine or Vermont, both of which had incomplete data. Here’s our full list, and also take a look at this breakdown of renting vs. buying.

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $932
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $11,184
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $37,280

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,549
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $18,582
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $61,940

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,352
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $16,218
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $54,060

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $876
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $10,506
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $35,020

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,163
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $25,950
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $86,500

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,669
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $20,022
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $66,740

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,664
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $19,962
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $66,540

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,430
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $17,160
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $57,200

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,544
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $18,522
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $61,740

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,245
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $14,934
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $49,780

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,260
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $27,120
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $90,400

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,013
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $12,156
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $40,520

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,358
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $16,290
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $54,300

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,089
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $13,068
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $43,560

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,010
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $12,114
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $40,380

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,017
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $12,198
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $40,660

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,001
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $12,006
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $40,020

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,043
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $12,516
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $41,720

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,812
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $21,738
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $72,460

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,027
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $24,324
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $81,080

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,137
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $13,638
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $45,460

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,352
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $16,224
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $54,080

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $964
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $11,568
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $38,560

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,078
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $12,930
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $43,100

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,066
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $12,792
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $42,640

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,114
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $13,362
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $44,540

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,371
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $16,452
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $54,840

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,606
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $19,272
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $64,240

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,982
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $23,778
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $79,260

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,027
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $12,324
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $41,080

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,829
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $21,942
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $73,140

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,149
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $13,782
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $45,940

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,054
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $12,642
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $42,140

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,080
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $12,954
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $43,180

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $964
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $11,568
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $38,560

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,422
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $17,064
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $56,880

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,286
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $15,432
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $51,440

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,453
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $17,430
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $58,100

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,180
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $14,160
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $47,200

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $900
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $10,800
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $36,000

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,102
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $13,218
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $44,060

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,274
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $15,288
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $50,960

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,290
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $15,480
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $51,600

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,549
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $18,588
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $61,960

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,672
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $20,064
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $66,880

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $906
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $10,872
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $36,240

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,178
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $14,136
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $47,120

• Average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,011
• Average yearly rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $12,126
• Minimum salary needed to rent a two-bedroom apartment: $40,420

Methodology: For this piece, GOBankingRates used ApartmentList’s 2-bedroom rent data for February 2024 to find each state’s (1) average monthly 2-bedroom rent and (2) average yearly 2-bedroom rent. GOBankingRates then used the 50/30/20 rule to determine the minimum salary needed to “afford” 2-bedroom rent in every state. All data was collected and up to date as of June 24, 2024.