Most Expensive Cities in the U.S. for Renters

Unless you’re a high earner, you’ll have a hard time affording rent here.

The rent is too darn high almost everywhere in the United States. But some cities make it harder for workers than others.

A new study revealed the 15 American cities with the least affordable rent. The ranking shows how much people are spending on housing compared to how much they earn. So, surprisingly, you won’t find San Francisco here since the Silicon Valley elite earn enough to afford pretty much anything.

Intrigued? These are the most expensive cities in the U.S., based on resident income.

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15. Chicago, Illinois

Lincoln Park neighborhood with Chicago skyline

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Median annual household income: $62,097

Median cost of 1-bedroom apartment: $1,830

Percentage of income spent on rent: 35.36 percent

Renters insurance offer: On Lemonade

*Data and rankings come from Housing List’s “Where in the U.S. Is Rent the Most (and Least) Affordable?” report.

Rent in Chicago

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If you’re going to pay too much to live in a city, let it be Chicago. While it matches New York in diversity, a great food scene and top cultural institutions, the Windy City is friendlier and, let’s be honest, prettier.

Its main problem is the weather. While the city is paradise from spring to fall, the long, cold winters will make you feel like you’re Leonardo Dicaprio in “The Revenant.” If you’re strong enough to survive that and are willing to spend over 35 percent of your salary on rent, then this is the place to live.

14. Santa Ana, California

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Median annual household income: $72,406

Median cost of 1-bedroom apartment: $2,150

Percentage of income spent on rent: 35.63 percent

Renters insurance offer: On Lemonade

Rent in Santa Ana

Metrolink commuter rail train at Santa Ana railway station near Los Angeles, United States

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Santa Ana’s main appeal is that it’s near Los Angeles without being Los Angeles. On its own, the city isn’t particularly exciting, though it does have some interesting museums. The community has also struggled with high crime rates, which are probably tied to the high cost of living compared to how much its residents earn.

If you can’t afford to live in L.A., but like the area and the weather, this is a cheaper alternative.

13. Rochester, New York

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Median annual household income: $37,395

Median cost of 1-bedroom apartment: $1,120

Percentage of income spent on rent: 35.94 percent

Renters insurance offer: On Lemonade

Rent in Rochester

Pont De Rennes Pedestrian Bridge in Rochester, New York

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Rochester isn’t a bad place to live. It just doesn’t really stand out in any way. The bland city sits in the former Rust Belt and sits on the shores of Lake Ontario. Many of the people who are moving into the city are seeking a cheaper alternative to New York City without leaving the state. If you have a decent job, you might even be able to buy property here!

While Rochester is beginning to recover from the blow that globalization dealt the area, salaries are still fairly low. In an attempt to reinvigorate the economy, the city is trying to attract remote workers that can bring in dollars without intensifying job competition.

12. San Diego, California

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Median annual household income: $83,454

Median cost of 1-bedroom apartment: $2,500

Percentage of income spent on rent: 35.95 percent

Renters insurance offer: On Lemonade

Rent in San Diego

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Located next to the Mexican border, San Diego is a top competitor for the best city in California. The metropolitan area has beaches, museums, numerous art galleries and pleasant weather year-round. Plus, the people are nicer and less pretentious than in Los Angeles, or even San Francisco.

But like its counterparts, San Diego suffers from affordability issues. People who want to live here will have to spend $2,500 on average for a one-bedroom apartment. Many residents don’t mind since they have a higher spending power than most Americans. But if you’re not a high-income earner, a decent life might be out of reach here.

11. Tampa, Florida

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Median annual household income: $55,364

Median cost of 1-bedroom apartment: $1,690

Percentage of income spent on rent: 36.63 percent

Renters insurance offer: On Lemonade

Rent in Tampa

Historic Ybor City in Tampa Bay, Florida

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In the past decade, Tampa has steadily worked on itself to emerge as a city people can be excited about. It’s located near some of Florida’s most beautiful beaches, including the famed Clearwater Beach, as well as the state’s impressive natural springs.

We love the city for inventing the Cuban sandwich. But whether it’s worth the high prices just because it’s near the beach is up to you to decide.

10. Fort Lauderdale, Florida

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Median annual household income: $64,313

Median cost of 1-bedroom apartment: $2,000

Percentage of income spent on rent: 37.32 percent

Renters insurance offer: On Lemonade

Rent in Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale riverwalk and yachts view, south Florida

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Miami’s less sparkly but still glamorous next-door neighbor isn’t as affordable as it would like you to think. Many wealthy retirees choose it over the loud metropolis for its beautiful beaches and numerous cultural activities. There has also been an influx of people escaping the rising costs of Miami, which has made everything more expensive here as well.

For a one-bedroom apartment, you can expect to pay $2,000, which is absurd if you ask us.

9. Detroit, Michigan

Hart Plaza in downtown Detroit Michigan USA

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Median annual household income: $32,498

Median cost of 1-bedroom apartment: $1,080

Percentage of income spent on rent: 39.88 percent

Renters insurance offer: On Lemonade

Rent in Detroit

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Given Detroit’s infamous fall that led the city to declare bankruptcy in 2013, it’s surprising to see it listed here. As many people abandoned or were forced out of their homes, streets were left with countless empty apartments and houses. For years, you could buy a house here for less than $10,000.

While the city is undergoing a celebrated comeback, it seems like it’s failing to address one of the issues that caused its fall: an unaffordable cost of living.

8. New Orleans, Louisiana

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Median annual household income: $43,258

Median cost of 1-bedroom apartment: $1,450

Percentage of income spent on rent: 40.22 percent

Rent in New Orleans

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Like many touristy cities, New Orleans’ problem is the disparity between the spending power of tourists versus locals. While visitors come here to party the night away on Bourbon Street, willingly paying exorbitant prices for delicious Cajun meals, it’s a different story for those who reside here.

Rental sites like Airbnb have only exacerbated the issue of high rent and gentrification. Residents have to spend an average of 40.22 percent of their income just to have a roof over their heads.

7. Newark, New Jersey

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Median annual household income: $37,476

Median cost of 1-bedroom apartment: $1,340

Percentage of income spent on rent: 42.91 percent

Renters insurance offer: On Lemonade

Rent in Newark

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Newark’s main appeal is that you can live near New York City without paying New York City prices. But don’t expect to be living on the cheap, either. You can find a one-bedroom apartment for $1,340 (a steal compared to the city), but you’ll also likely be earning considerably less, with the median annual household income at $37,476.

It’s common for Newark residents to have a job in the city, which means long commutes that eat into free time. Unless you absolutely have to be near New York, we’d recommend skipping town altogether.

6. Los Angeles, California

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Median annual household income: $65,290

Median cost of 1-bedroom apartment: $2,410

Percentage of income spent on rent: 44.29 percent

Renters insurance offer: On Lemonade

Rent in Los Angeles

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We’re shocked that Los Angeles isn’t higher on this list. Notorious for its inequality, L.A. is the city where the world’s wealthiest stars coincide with some of the most marginalized neighborhoods in the country.

Expect to pay more than $2,400 for a single bedroom — and probably not a nice one.

5. Cleveland, Ohio

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Median annual household income: $31,838

Median cost of 1-bedroom apartment: $1,220

Percentage of income spent on rent: 45.98 percent

Renters insurance offer: On Lemonade

Rent in Cleveland

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We don’t know how to put this politely, so we’ll just come right out and say it: Cleveland is not worth a high cost of living. At least in other cities, you get the thrill of a cosmopolis where you feel like the whole world is condensed into a small area.

But Cleveland is, at best, OK. Yes, it has access to Lake Erie and decent museums, but this Rust Belt spot lacks pizzazz or any hint of a spark that differentiates it from any other mid-sized U.S. city. No one should be spending almost 46 percent of their income to live here.

4. Providence, Rhode Island

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Median annual household income: $49,065

Median cost of 1-bedroom apartment: $1,910

Percentage of income spent on rent: 46.71 percent

Renters insurance offer: On Lemonade

Rent in Providence

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On the other spectrum, we have gorgeous Providence, which is most definitely worth its high cost … if you can afford it. The coastal city has food, vistas and cultural events to spare. Plus, it’s near nature, and the locals are friendly. Those who have the money should indulge in how good life is.

The issue is that many residents struggle to breathe after paying rent. Unless you’re a high earner, you might want to set your eyes elsewhere.

3. Boston, Massachusetts

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Median annual household income: $76,298

Median cost of 1-bedroom apartment: $3,060

Percentage of income spent on rent: 48.13 percent

Renters insurance offer: On Lemonade

Rent in Boston

Typical Townhouses Back Bay Boston Massachusetts

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Like Providence, Boston is an incredible city to live in. But it’s not without issues. Income disparity is a big problem and, as with New Orleans, mass tourism only makes it worse.

People earn the highest median annual household income out of any other city on this list, but they also pay about $3,060 for one bedroom. Unless that comes with a robot who does all your chores and cooks, we can’t see how it’s justified.

2. Miami, Florida

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Median annual household income: $44,268

Median cost of 1-bedroom apartment: $2,510

Percentage of income spent on rent: 68.04 percent

Renters insurance offer: On Lemonade

Rent in Miami

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Miami has always attracted the rich and famous, but there were pockets of the city that were once affordable to everyday folks. That all vanished with the pandemic, when wealthy Californians and New Yorkers moved to town, seeking to avoid state taxes, have more land and enjoy the nice weather.

The newcomers have no issue paying $2,510 for a single bedroom — a price out of reach for much of the city’s large immigrant population. As a result, there is a mass exodus of long-time residents who find that they can’t afford rent here anymore.

And while the beach and the food are certainly alluring, we’re not convinced they’re worth 68 percent of anyone’s income.

1. New York, New York

The skyline of New York City, United States

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Median annual household income: $67,046

Median cost of 1-bedroom apartment: $3,860

Percentage of income spent on rent: 69.19 percent

Renters insurance offer: On Lemonade

Rent in New York

Teal and orange mood of Manhattan and East river

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We all knew New York would top this list. It is, after all, the city that demands you pay 69 percent of your earnings for a tiny cockroach-infested apartment that you share with 10 other people.

Sure, many residents can afford to live the high life, but even more struggle daily just to meet basic needs. With a single-bedroom apartment costing $3,860, people often need multiple jobs to survive.

Still, many think no price is too high to be in the greatest city in the world. Their words, not ours.