34 Cities With Sky-High Rent Prices for 1 Bedroom Apartments
Rent prices are a struggle for a significant portion of the American population. Those who aren’t able or choose not to buy property sign leases run by landlords who are known to increase prices by the year.
Americans looking for a single-bedroom apartment encounter astronomical prices, too, especially for single people or those with limited income looking to live in major cities.
Apartment finder platform Zumper ranked the top 35 cities with high rent prices for a one-bedroom apartment. If you’re curious how much money fellow Americans pay to rent a one-bedroom apartment, or if you’re thinking of moving soon, you need to see the results.
Top Cities’ Rent Ranking
To determine where one-bedroom apartments are the most expensive, Zumper used May 2024 data from over one million property listings across the U.S. They gathered statistics from the 100 most populated cities as well as around 300 cities within major metro areas. The data doesn’t include short-term leases or listings that were occupied at the time of the study.
Surprisingly, one report found that the national average for rent for a one-bedroom apartment in some of the largest cities in the U.S. has dropped, but not by much. The median rent dropped by $1 to $1,712 per month when comparing rent prices at the end of 2023 to the beginning of 2024.
But what cities rank highest when it comes to one-bedroom rent prices? Are you paying more for rent in your city compared to others?
1: New York City, New York
- Price of a one-bedroom apartment: $4,200
- Year over year price change: 11.10%
2: Jersey City, New Jersey
- Price of a one-bedroom apartment: $3,330
- Year over year price change: 4.7%
3: San Francisco, California
- Price of a one-bedroom apartment: $2,950
- Year over year price change: -1.70%
4: Boston, Massachusetts
- Price of a one-bedroom apartment: $2,830
- Year over year price change: 4.80%
5: Miami, Florida
- Price of a one-bedroom apartment: $2,770
- Year over year price change: -4.50%
6: San Jose, California
- Price of a one-bedroom apartment: $2,570
- Year over year price change: -2.30%
7: Arlington, Virginia
- Price of a one-bedroom apartment: $2,380
- Year over year price change: 3.50%
8: San Diego, California
- Price of a one-bedroom apartment: $2,370
- Year over year price change: -1.30%
9: Washington, DC
- Price of a one-bedroom apartment: $2,300
- Year over year price change: -3.00%
10: Los Angeles, California
- Price of a one-bedroom apartment: $2,300
- Year over year price change: -5.00%
Note: Los Angeles tied with Washington, DC.
11: Chicago, Illinois
- Price of a one-bedroom apartment: $2,220
- Year over year price change: 18.70%
12: Santa Ana, California
- Price of a one-bedroom apartment: $2,170
- Year over year price change: 1.40%
13: Anaheim, California
- Price of a one-bedroom apartment: $2,030
- Year over year price change: 3.60%
14: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Price of a one-bedroom apartment: $2,030
- Year over year price change: -3.30%
Note: Fort Lauderdale tied with Anaheim.
15: Urban Honolulu, Hawaii
- Price of a one-bedroom apartment: $2,000
- Year over year price change: 3.60%
16: Charleston, South Carolina
- Price of a one-bedroom apartment: $2,000
- Year over year price change: 3.60%
17: Oakland, California
- Price of a one-bedroom apartment: $2,000
- Year over year price change: -9.10%
Note: Oakland tied with Urban Honolulu and Charleston.
18: Seattle, Washington
- Price of a one-bedroom apartment: $1,930
- Year over year price change: -2.50%
19: Denver, Colorado
- Price of a one-bedroom apartment: $1,810
- Year over year price change: 2.30%
20: New Haven, Connecticut
- Price of a one-bedroom apartment: $1,800
- Year over year price change: 12.50%
21: Long Beach, California
- Price of a one-bedroom apartment: $1,800
- Year over year price change: -1.10%
Note: Long Beach tied with New Haven.
22: Providence, Rhode Island
- Price of a one-bedroom apartment: $1,730
- Year over year price change: 6.80%
23: Scottsdale, Arizona
- Price of a one-bedroom apartment: $1,710
- Year over year price change: -7.60%
24: Nashville, Tennessee
- Price of a one-bedroom apartment: $1,700
- Year over year price change: -4.50%
25: Tampa, Florida
- Price of a one-bedroom apartment: $1,650
- Year over year price change: -1.20%
26: Atlanta, Georgia
- Price of a one-bedroom apartment: $1,650
- Year over year price change: -5.70%
Note: Atlanta tied with Tampa.
27: St. Petersburg, Florida
- Price of a one-bedroom apartment: $1,580
- Year over year price change: 0.00%
28: Orlando, Florida
- Price of a one-bedroom apartment: $1,570
- Year over year price change: -4.80%
29: Newark, New Jersey
- Price of a one-bedroom apartment: $1,550
- Year over year price change: 11.50%
30: Henderson, Nevada
- Price of a one-bedroom apartment: $1,550
- Year over year price change: 4.00%
Note: Henderson tied with Newark.
31: Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Price of a one-bedroom apartment: $1,540
- Year over year price change: -1.30%
32: New Orleans, Louisiana
- Price of a one-bedroom apartment: $1,540
- Year over year price change: -1.30%
Note: New Orleans tied with Virginia Beach.
33: Madison, Wisconsin
- Price of a one-bedroom apartment: $1,530
- Year over year price change: 13.30%
34: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Price of a one-bedroom apartment: $1,530
- Year over year price change: -1.30%
Note: Philadelphia tied with Madison.
High Rent in Cities
Perhaps unsurprisingly, New York City (NYC) made the top of Zumper’s list in terms of the rental price of a one-bedroom apartment. In a 2024 report, the overall rent prices in NYC have grown by more than 2% over the last year.
For better or worse, high rent prices affect the majority of people in New York City. Sixty-nine percent of the population rents their homes, and about half of them are rent-regulated apartments.
Because of the pandemic and people leaving New York, rent prices had fallen about 15%. But by 2023, rent levels returned to pre-pandemic levels.
Housing Price Trends
Philadelphia tied with Madison in the bottom 35 for high rent prices. The good news? There might be a better, cheaper option for Americans who want to live in the City of Brotherly Love. In a 2023 report, the estimated mortgage payment in Philadelphia was cheaper than the median rent prices. So, buying a home might be a wiser financial move.
Even though Madison ranks relatively better for one-bedroom apartment rent prices, Wisconsin is facing increased rent prices which are affecting residents’ livelihoods. A 2023 report found over 100 people in Madison who were interviewed were concerned about being priced out of their homes.
What’s making things worse? Madison is on track to add over 100,000 new residents between 2023 and 2050, which will surely increase housing costs and the price of a one-bedroom apartment.
Renting Cheap in Kansas
If you’re looking for an affordable city to live in, Wichita, Kansas, might be the place to go. According to 2024 data, Wichita ranked as the most affordable city in the U.S. for a single renter. The median cost of a studio apartment there is $565 a month.
In 2023, the average rent price in Wichita grew just below the state average, which was 6%.
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On the flip side, these are the top 25 cities that’ll do a (lower) number on your bank account.
