100 Cheap Places To Live With Rent Less Than $2,000

When it comes to monthly expenses, rent often takes the most significant bite out of your paycheck. That’s even more true in the past few years. Rents increased by a shocking 30.4% in the U.S. between 2019 and 2023, according to a May analysis by Zillow and StreetEasy, yet wages in that same time period only increased by 20.2%.

This disparity is leaving people in a tough spot to afford their rent. However, it’s not that way in every city in the nation. In some places you can still afford your rent and your other monthly expenses without being in a tough spot.

To find 100 cheap places to live where your rent is under $2,000, GOBankingRates analyzed rent prices for cities across America and found all of them with an average rent cost under $2,000 a month during April 2024 as sourced from Zillow Observed Rental Index. Most of these cities are in the Midwest and the South, with a sprinkling of those on the East and West Coasts.

Here are 100 cheap places to live where you can find rent for less than $2,000.

• Average monthly rent: $1,395.65 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,834.77 
• Annual cost of living: $38,765.15 

• Average monthly rent: $1,617.50 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,932.45 
• Annual cost of living: $42,599.37 

• Average monthly rent: $600.00 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,818.01 
• Annual cost of living: $29,016.17 

Pictured: Raleigh

• Average monthly rent: $1,671.86 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,930.77 
• Annual cost of living: $43,231.55 

• Average monthly rent: $888.35 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,809.07 
• Annual cost of living: $32,369.00 

• Average monthly rent: $1,850.00 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,972.69 
• Annual cost of living: $45,872.32

• Average monthly rent: $1,165.26 
• Monthly expenditures: $2,006.57 
• Annual cost of living: $38,061.96 

• Average monthly rent: $1,270.67 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,880.57 
• Annual cost of living: $37,814.83 

• Average monthly rent: $1,442.89 
• Monthly expenditures: $2,004.06 
• Annual cost of living: $41,363.36 

Pictured: Slatington

• Average monthly rent: $850.00 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,780.00 
• Annual cost of living: $31,560.06 

• Average monthly rent: $1,448.33 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,952.55 
• Annual cost of living: $40,810.62 

• Average monthly rent: $1,890.00 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,860.43 
• Annual cost of living: $45,005.11 

Pictured: Cleveland

• Average monthly rent: $1,544.56 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,980.19 
• Annual cost of living: $42,296.95 

Pictured: St. Louis

• Average monthly rent: $1,143.33 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,932.48 
• Annual cost of living: $36,909.80 

Pictured: Chicago

• Average monthly rent: $827.00 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,769.48 
• Annual cost of living: $31,157.75 

• Average monthly rent: $1,555.73 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,925.46 
• Annual cost of living: $41,774.29 

• Average monthly rent: $1,089.25 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,835.50 
• Annual cost of living: $35,097.10 

• Average monthly rent: $796.25 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,679.47 
• Annual cost of living: $29,708.66 

Pictured: St. Paul

• Average monthly rent: $1,609.66 
• Monthly expenditures: $2,051.50 
• Annual cost of living: $43,933.94 

Pictured: Toledo

• Average monthly rent: $1,609.66 
• Monthly expenditures: $2,051.50 
• Annual cost of living: $43,933.94

Pictured: Port Huron

• Average monthly rent: $800.00 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,905.08 
• Annual cost of living: $32,460.95 

• Average monthly rent: $908.50 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,669.75 
• Annual cost of living: $30,939.01 

• Average monthly rent: $1,841.33 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,982.83 
• Annual cost of living: $45,889.92 

• Average monthly rent: $1,787.60 
• Monthly expenditures: $2,048.62 
• Annual cost of living: $46,034.75 

Pictured: Hickory

• Average monthly rent: $1,222.58 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,802.72 
• Annual cost of living: $36,303.63 

Pictured: Madison

• Average monthly rent: $1,580.53 
• Monthly expenditures: $2,081.46 
• Annual cost of living: $43,943.83 

• Average monthly rent: $1,031.53 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,899.10 
• Annual cost of living: $35,167.59

Pictured: Kansas City

• Average monthly rent: $1,726.04 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,817.34 
• Annual cost of living: $42,520.59 

• Average monthly rent: $1,473.33 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,941.90 
• Annual cost of living: $40,982.79 

• Average monthly rent: $1,343.28 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,904.08 
• Annual cost of living: $38,968.37

Pictured: Hunting

• Average monthly rent: $1,701.76 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,939.91 
• Annual cost of living: $43,700.03 

• Average monthly rent: $1,691.29 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,828.75 
• Annual cost of living: $42,240.47 

• Average monthly rent: $1,525.00 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,966.84 
• Annual cost of living: $41,902.09 

Pictured: Detroit

• Average monthly rent: $1,388.82 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,873.06 
• Annual cost of living: $39,142.59

Pictured: Bentonville

• Average monthly rent: $1,707.80 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,857.24 
• Annual cost of living: $42,780.52

• Average monthly rent: $1,209.00 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,840.82 
• Annual cost of living: $36,597.86 

Pictured: Hilliard

• Average monthly rent: $1,740.88 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,988.34 
• Annual cost of living: $44,750.62 

• Average monthly rent: $1,365.76 
• Monthly expenditures: $2,167.28 
• Annual cost of living: $42,396.47 

Pictured: Lenexa

• Average monthly rent: $1,136.25 
• Monthly expenditures: $2,018.89 
• Annual cost of living: $37,861.68 

• Average monthly rent: $1,162.45 
• Monthly expenditures: $2,059.05 
• Annual cost of living: $38,658.05

• Average monthly rent: $1,327.62 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,858.07 
• Annual cost of living: $38,228.36 

• Average monthly rent: $885.00 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,995.82 
• Annual cost of living: $34,569.86 

Pictured: Philadelphia

• Average monthly rent: $1,733.04 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,923.66 
• Annual cost of living: $43,880.44

Pictured: Columbia

• Average monthly rent: $899.38 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,759.72 
• Annual cost of living: $31,909.20 

• Average monthly rent: $1,090.09 
• Monthly expenditures: $2,043.52 
• Annual cost of living: $37,603.27 

• Average monthly rent: $1,200.00 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,970.25 
• Annual cost of living: $38,043.04 

Pictured: Frankfort

• Average monthly rent: $1,577.44 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,998.82 
• Annual cost of living: $42,915.18 

Pictured: Cleveland

• Average monthly rent: $1,928.76 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,937.49 
• Annual cost of living: $46,395.04 

• Average monthly rent: $1,182.41 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,902.61 
• Annual cost of living: $37,020.25 

• Average monthly rent: $675.00 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,834.66 
• Annual cost of living: $30,115.97 

Pictured: Des Moines

• Average monthly rent: $942.22 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,675.65 
• Annual cost of living: $31,414.47

Pictured: Indianapolis

• Average monthly rent: $1,253.83 
• Monthly expenditures: $2,215.19 
• Annual cost of living: $41,628.24

Pictured: Barton Hills

• Average monthly rent: $1,667.50 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,876.00 
• Annual cost of living: $42,521.96 

Pictured: Cleveland

• Average monthly rent: $1,070.00 
• Monthly expenditures: $2,159.96 
• Annual cost of living: $38,759.50 

• Average monthly rent: $800.00 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,852.95 
• Annual cost of living: $31,835.37 

• Average monthly rent: $1,759.80 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,971.43 
• Annual cost of living: $44,774.72 

• Average monthly rent: $1,361.26 
• Monthly expenditures: $2,018.13 
• Annual cost of living: $40,552.72 

Pictured: Birmingham

• Average monthly rent: $1,174.04 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,961.84 
• Annual cost of living: $37,630.57 

• Average monthly rent: $1,469.61 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,810.32 
• Annual cost of living: $39,359.23 

Pictured: Boomtown

• Average monthly rent: $1,963.78 
• Monthly expenditures: $2,135.25 
• Annual cost of living: $49,188.39 

• Average monthly rent: $1,857.50 
• Monthly expenditures: $2,001.61 
• Annual cost of living: $46,309.31 

Pictured: Ann Arbor

• Average monthly rent: $1,040.52 
• Monthly expenditures: $2,082.37 
• Annual cost of living: $37,474.71

• Average monthly rent: $1,960.00 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,812.85 
• Annual cost of living: $45,274.16

• Average monthly rent: $1,642.72 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,876.46 
• Annual cost of living: $42,230.10 

Pictured: Feliz

• Average monthly rent: $967.64 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,903.36 
• Annual cost of living: $34,452.02

Pictured: Camden

• Average monthly rent: $1,068.33 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,890.00 
• Annual cost of living: $35,499.98

Pictured: Deadwood

• Average monthly rent: $1,780.69 
• Monthly expenditures: $2,121.42 
• Annual cost of living: $46,825.37 

Pictured: Johnston

• Average monthly rent: $1,807.01 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,927.74 
• Annual cost of living: $44,817.02 

Pictured: Minneapolis

• Average monthly rent: $1,330.36 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,841.55 
• Annual cost of living: $38,062.94 

• Average monthly rent:$1,050.06 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,991.99 
• Annual cost of living: $36,504.59 

• Average monthly rent: $1,101.42 
• Monthly expenditures: $2,075.15 
• Annual cost of living: $38,118.83

• Average monthly rent: $1,380.17 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,840.69 
• Annual cost of living: $38,650.30

Pictured: Myrtle Beach

• Average monthly rent: $689.44 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,818.70 
• Annual cost of living: $30,097.71 

• Average monthly rent: $1,698.52 
• Monthly expenditures: $2,033.52 
• Annual cost of living: $44,784.56 

• Average monthly rent: $1,242.79 
• Monthly expenditures: $2,051.91 
• Annual cost of living: $39,536.43

• Average monthly rent: $1,466.67 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,939.35 
• Annual cost of living: $40,872.18

Pictured: Galena

• Average monthly rent: $1,862.86 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,942.29 
• Annual cost of living: $45,661.78 

Pictured: Terre Haute

• Average monthly rent: $1,488.11 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,817.99 
• Annual cost of living: $39,673.23

Pictured: Toledo

• Average monthly rent: $1,466.11 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,902.42 
• Annual cost of living: $40,422.42

Pictured: St. Louis

• Average monthly rent: $1,042.72 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,695.40 
• Annual cost of living: $32,857.43

Pictured: Arlington

• Average monthly rent: $1,827.81 
• Monthly expenditures: $2,150.10 
• Annual cost of living: $47,734.88

• Average monthly rent: $1,074.06 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,901.69 
• Annual cost of living: $35,709.04 

• Average monthly rent: $991.88 
• Monthly expenditures: $2,004.46 
• Annual cost of living: $35,956.03 

• Average monthly rent: $1,301.78 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,788.70 
• Annual cost of living: $37,085.72

Pictured: Detroit

• Average monthly rent: $1,309.65 
• Monthly expenditures: $2,036.30 
• Annual cost of living: $40,151.34 

• Average monthly rent: $1,546.67 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,957.67 
• Annual cost of living: $42,052.09 

Pictured: Frankfurt

• Average monthly rent: $1,349.44 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,941.51 
• Annual cost of living: $39,491.35

• Average monthly rent: $1,701.12 
• Monthly expenditures: $2,159.93 
• Annual cost of living: $46,332.59 

• Average monthly rent: $1,174.12 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,867.93 
• Annual cost of living: $36,504.67 

• Average monthly rent: $1,357.67 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,833.30 
• Annual cost of living: $38,291.62

Pictured: Columbus

• Average monthly rent: $1,730.83 
• Monthly expenditures: $2,190.19 
• Annual cost of living: $47,052.31 

• Average monthly rent: $834.79 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,970.88 
• Annual cost of living: $33,668.02

• Average monthly rent: $1,589.37 
• Monthly expenditures: $2,144.35 
• Annual cost of living: $44,804.66 

• Average monthly rent: $1,571.67 
• Monthly expenditures: $2,097.47 
• Annual cost of living: $44,029.66

Pictured: Baltimore

• Average monthly rent: $1,004.17 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,763.97 
• Annual cost of living: $33,217.66 

Pictured: Detroit

• Average monthly rent: $1,502.20 
• Monthly expenditures: $2,022.48 
• Annual cost of living: $42,296.14 

Pictured: Provo

• Average monthly rent: $1,639.13 
• Monthly expenditures: $2,068.33 
• Annual cost of living: $44,489.52

Pictured: Lewisburg

• Average monthly rent: $1,671.25 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,892.56 
• Annual cost of living: $42,765.76

Pictured: Youngstown

• Average monthly rent: $1,211.44 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,679.24 
• Annual cost of living: $34,688.18

• Average monthly rent: $1,378.42 
• Monthly expenditures: $1,816.09 
• Annual cost of living: $38,334.20

Pictured: Georgetown

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed rent prices for cities across the United States to find cheap places with a rent less than $2,000. First, GOBankingRates found all the cities with an average rent cost under $2,000 a month during April 2024 as sourced from Zillow Observed Rental Index. For each city the cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperlings BestPlaces and used with the national average expenditure costs for all residents as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, to find the average expenditure cost for each city. The total cost of living can be calculated by using the average expenditure cost and the average rent cost. The livability index was sourced from AreaVibes for each city to distinguish between the quality of life of the different cities. The household median income was scored and weighted at 1.00, the livability index was scored and weighted at 1.00, and the total cost of living was scored and weighted at 1.00. All three scores were summed and sorted to show the cheap places to live with rent less than $2,000. All data was collected on and is up-to-date as-of May 30th, 2024.