Housing Market: 65 Cities Where The Average American Can Afford Rent

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The cost of living continues to rise throughout the United States. Many of the areas where people could once afford have now become too expensive to live in. However, there are still quite a few cities where the average American can afford rent.

GOBankingRates compiled data from the 100 largest cities in America to determine where the typical American could afford rent. To be considered “affordable,” the person renting would have to be able to live there without spending more than 30% of their pre-tax income on housing.

Taking the national median household income of $75,149 — per the latest data from the 2018-2022 American Community Survey as conducted by the US Census Bureau — this means the average monthly rent would have to be $1,878 or less.

Here are the 65 cities where people can keep costs low and still afford rent. All data is up to date as of April 10, 2024.

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Top 10 Cities Where Americans Can Afford Rent

Of the top 10 most affordable cities where people can still afford to rent, seven of them are in Midwestern states. This includes Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Ohio.

1. Wichita, Kansas

2024 average monthly rent: $1,021
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $40,847

2. Toledo, Ohio

2024 average monthly rent: $1,079
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $43,155

3. Fort Wayne, Indiana

2024 average monthly rent: $1,126
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $45,044

4. Tulsa, Oklahoma

2024 average monthly rent: $1,234
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $49,354

5. Detroit, Michigan

2024 average monthly rent: $1,240
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $49,607

6. Lincoln, Nebraska

2024 average monthly rent: $1,246
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $49,824

7. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

2024 average monthly rent: $1,248
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $49,903

8. Milwaukee, Wisconsin

2024 average monthly rent: $1,275
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $51,006

9. Memphis, Tennessee

2024 average monthly rent: $1,279
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $51,178

10. Saint Louis, Missouri

2024 average monthly rent: $1,289
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $51,561

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#11-20 Cities Where Americans Can Afford Rent

The Midwest has long been considered a more affordable place to live, especially compared to the coastal states. So, it should come as no surprise that the next group of affordable cities includes Ohio (twice), Indiana, Missouri and Nebraska. Though it’s not technically a Midwestern state, Kentucky also makes the list twice.

11. Buffalo, New York

2024 average monthly rent: $1,296
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $51,840

12. Cleveland, Ohio

2024 average monthly rent: $1,306
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $52,233

13. Baton Rouge, Louisiana

2024 average monthly rent: $1,307
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $52,287

14. Omaha, Nebraska

2024 average monthly rent: $1,308
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $52,319

15. Lubbock, Texas

2024 average monthly rent: $1,329
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $53,151

16. Indianapolis, Indiana

2024 average monthly rent: $1,338
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $53,531

17. Louisville, Kentucky

2024 average monthly rent: $1,371
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $54,856

18. Kansas City, Missouri

2024 average monthly rent: $1,356
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $54,237

19. Lexington, Kentucky

2024 average monthly rent: $1,371
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $54,856

20. Columbus, Ohio

2024 average monthly rent: $1,379
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $55,147

21-30 Cities Where Americans Can Afford Rent

Six of the following cities are located in either South or Southwestern states. Two of them are located in the Midwestern states of Ohio and Minnesota.

21. Cincinnati, Ohio

2024 average monthly rent: $1,383
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $55,327

22. San Antonio, Texas

2024 average monthly rent: $1,393
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $55,700

23. Rochester, New York

2024 average monthly rent: $1,429
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $57,152

24. Saint Paul, Minnesota

2024 average monthly rent: $1,433
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $57,315

25. Columbia, South Carolina

2024 average monthly rent: $1,436
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $57,444

26. Greensboro, North Carolina

2024 average monthly rent: $1,442
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $57,669

27. Tucson, Arizona

2024 average monthly rent: $1,443
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $57,704

28. Corpus Christi, Texas

2024 average monthly rent: $1,450
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $58,016

29. Albuquerque, New Mexico

2024 average monthly rent: $1,451
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $58,044

30. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

2024 average monthly rent: $1,462
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $58,480

31-40 Cities Where Americans Can Afford Rent

Hovering around the middle of the list of cities with affordable rents are several states in the south or southwest — namely, North Carolina, Florida, Virginia, Arizona and Texas.

31. Spokane, Washington

2024 average monthly rent: $1,466
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $58,639

32. Winston-Salem, North Carolina

2024 average monthly rent: $1,473
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $58,917

33. Tallahassee, Florida

2024 average monthly rent: $1,495
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $59,793

34. El Paso, Texas

2024 average monthly rent: $1,504
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $60,152

35. Richmond, Virginia

2024 average monthly rent: $1,531
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $61,244

36. Minneapolis, Minnesota

2024 average monthly rent: $1,568
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $62,721

37. Houston, Texas

2024 average monthly rent: $1,571
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $62,847

38. Arlington, Texas

2024 average monthly rent: $1,591
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $63,647

39. Jacksonville, Florida

2024 average monthly rent: $1,594
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $63,747

40. Mesa, Arizona

2024 average monthly rent: $1,639
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $65,556

41-50 Cities Where Americans Can Afford Rent

The average monthly rent in the following cities is between $1,600 and $1,700 a month, and the minimum salary needed to keep housing costs to 30% or below is $65,000 to $68,000 a year. This is still below the national average salary, making the cost of living a little more affordable for the average American.

41. Baltimore, Maryland

2024 average monthly rent: $1,641
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $65,625

42. Durham, North Carolina

2024 average monthly rent: $1,654
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $66,162

43. New Orleans, Louisiana

2024 average monthly rent: $1,656
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $66,252

44. Raleigh, North Carolina

2024 average monthly rent: $1,667
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $66,693

45. Fort Worth, Texas

2024 average monthly rent: $1,679
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $67,162

46. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

2024 average monthly rent: $1,702
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $68,071

47. Phoenix, Arizona

2024 average monthly rent: $1,705
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $68,189

48. Dallas, Texas

2024 average monthly rent: $1,711
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $68,448

49. Las Vegas, Nevada

2024 average monthly rent: $1,712
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $68,461

50. Austin, Texas

2024 average monthly rent: $1,721
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $68,835

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51-65 Cities Where Americans Can Afford Rent

The Southwestern states of Colorado and Nevada also make this list, as do some areas in the South — namely, North Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia. You might also be surprised to find that certain areas of the Pacific Northwest are also still reasonably priced.

51. Spring, Texas

2024 average monthly rent: $1,724
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $68,964

52. Boise, Idaho

2024 average monthly rent: $1,738
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $69,514

53. Portland, Oregon

2024 average monthly rent: $1,744
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $69,757

54. Vancouver, Washington

2024 average monthly rent: $1,747
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $69,884

55. Charlotte, North Carolina

2024 average monthly rent: $1,769
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $70,742

56. Marietta, Georgia

2024 average monthly rent: $1,772
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $70,880

57. Plano, Texas

2024 average monthly rent: $1,784
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $71,353

58. Colorado Springs, Colorado

2024 average monthly rent: $1,804
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $72,174

59. Reno, Nevada

2024 average monthly rent: $1,808
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $72,335

60. Fresno, California

2024 average monthly rent: $1,817
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $72,694

61. Knoxville, Tennessee

2024 average monthly rent: $1,820
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $72,795

62. Henderson, Nevada

2024 average monthly rent: $1,839
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $73,563

63. Modesto, California

2024 average monthly rent: $1,842
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $73,680

64. Nashville, Tennessee

2024 average monthly rent: $1,851
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $74,040

65. Virginia Beach, Virginia

2024 average monthly rent: $1,857
Minimum salary needed to afford rent: $74,263

Disclaimer: Photos are representational and don’t necessarily depict the city mentioned.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Housing Market: 65 Cities Where The Average American Can Afford Rent