Here’s How Much It Costs to Rent a Home in These U.S. Cities

Thinking of moving to a new city? Before packing those boxes, it’s important to make sure you can actually afford to live there first. Fortunately, if you can’t afford to own a home in the area, you may be able to rent. Renting allows newcomers to live in a city without making the serious financial commitment that a real estate purchase entails. If you’re curious how much it costs to rent a home in America’s most popular cities, we’ve got the scoop. Below, we’ve listed 20 of America’s most beloved cities, and the corresponding median rental rates from realtor.com in order from most expensive to least expensive. In addition, we’ve included cost of living details from AreaVibes. Best of luck and happy moving!

Here’s how much it costs to rent in these 20 U.S. cities

San Francisco

Los Angeles, CA

New York City, NY

San Jose, CA

Boston, MA

Washington, DC

Seattle, WA

San Diego, CA

Atlanta, GA

Charleston, SC

Denver, CO

Dallas, TX

Austin, TX

Chicago, IL

Houston, TX

Phoenix, AZ

Philadelphia, PA

Charlotte, NC

San Antonio, TX

Jacksonville, FL

Why should you rent instead of buy?

Not everyone has money stashed away for a down payment on a home. If owning a home doesn’t make sense financially, then renting is certainly the next best option. Renting is also ideal for anyone who isn’t ready to make a commitment to one city or neighborhood just yet. It allows you to test out an area and see how you like living there before forking over tens of thousands of dollars. If the neighborhood you enjoy living in is also out of your price range, then renting could allow you to live somewhere you wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford. In addition, renting a home saves you the trouble of having to make repairs and keep up with home maintenance demands. Instead, your landlord should be able to handle these details for you.

Ready to move?

To learn more about these fantastic cities, check out Moving.com’s City Profile Report feature. Our in-depth reports include city demographics, real estate information, quality of life factors and more. Simply enter the zip code or the state and city of your potential move to get a free report at the click of a button. If you think you want to make one of these cities your new home, you may need to hire professionals to handle your relocation. Fortunately, Moving.com’s extensive network of reputable and reliable movers makes it easy to book the best moving company for the job. All relocation companies in our network are licensed and insured, so you can rest assured that your move will be in good hands.