Where It’s Easiest to Find a Rental for Less Than $1,000
- Author: Aubrey Sipes
- Posted: 2025-11-12
For many renters, saving enough for a down payment on a home takes longer now—about 8.7 years of saving 5% of their income, compared to 7.4 years in 2019.
Renters looking for apartments under $1,000 will have the best luck in smaller cities in the Midwest and South.
According to Zillow, out of the 100 largest cities in the U.S., only 13 have more than a third of rentals listed for less than $1,000 a month.
Top cities for affordable rentals include:
- Wichita, Kansas: 54% of apartments rent for less than $1,000—the highest among large cities.
- McAllen, Texas: Also has more than half of apartments under $1,000.
- Little Rock, Arkansas: 49%
- Toledo, Ohio: 46%
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: 42%
In contrast, cities like Boston, Miami, Washington D.C., North Port (Florida), Charleston (South Carolina), and Cape Coral (Florida) have almost no rentals under $1,000—just 1.7% or less.
Where Are the Most Affordable Apartments Overall?
When looking at apartments that cost less than 30% of the typical household’s income, some cities with higher incomes stand out for affordability:
- Ogden, Utah: 97% of apartments are considered affordable for the typical income there.
- Raleigh, North Carolina: 96%
- Colorado Springs, Colorado: 95%
- Des Moines, Iowa: 94%
- Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: 94%
On the other hand, expensive cities like Miami, New York, Los Angeles, and Boston have far fewer affordable apartments. For example, only about 31% of apartments in Miami are affordable for the average family there.
Renting a Room: A Way to Save
If renting a whole apartment is too expensive, renting a room can save a lot of money and help you live in a more desirable location. According to Zillow, the median rental price for a room is $1,000 or less in 86 out of the 100 largest cities.
Even in expensive cities like Seattle, you can still find rooms at this price. In California’s biggest cities, which are known for high housing costs, renting a room is a common option. This helps both renters and homeowners; some homeowners rent out rooms to help cover their mortgage.
Almost a third of recent homebuyers said the ability to rent out their entire house, or even just a room, was very important when choosing what home to buy.
Summary
- Apartments under $1,000 are mostly found in the Midwest and South.
- Cities with high incomes can still have a high percentage of affordable apartments.
- Renting a room is a good way to save money and is possible in most big cities—even the expensive ones.
- If you’re hunting for affordable rent, consider looking in cities like Wichita or renting a room instead of an entire apartment.
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