It’s time to move, and you’re looking everywhere to find a nice, new apartment to call home. And unsurprisingly, one of the biggest factors in your decision-making process is finding a place that’s affordable, especially as apartment costs nationwide continue to increase. So, what’s the best way to find an affordable apartment? It’s simple, by comparing rent prices in and around the different areas you’d like to live.
Whether you’re on the East Coast, West Coast, or in between the two, rental website RENTCafé created an interactive map that highlights the most expensive rent prices in the country as well as the rent prices in any specific area. Just hover over the map to see the average rent price in your state, or zoom in and click to see the average rent price for a specific zip code.
Do you know what areas have the most expensive rent prices in the U.S.?
Well the short and easy answer is pretty much anywhere in Manhattan or San Francisco. Manhattan currently has eight of the top ten most expensive zip codes in the United States as far as rent prices are concerned, while San Francisco’s 94129 and 94105 zip codes take up the other two spots at 4th and 9th overall.
Manhattan has the most outrageous rent prices year in and year out, but how much exactly does rent cost in Manhattan? Well within its 10282 zip code known as Battery Park, the average rent cost per month is nearly $6,000! It’s no surprise really though, as this upscale Manhattan neighborhood is a popular living destination for many working on Wall Street’s financial district, and includes waterfront residences, spacious parks, and quiet streets.
While there’s no arguing that Battery Park is one of the most sought-after places to live in New York City, the Upper East Side is a close second place in outrageous rent prices, as renters in the 10065 zip code pay just south of $4,900 a month on average. And just across town, the Upper West Side isn’t far behind, as renters here pay a lofty $4,892 on average for rent each month.
What cities have the cheapest rent in the U.S.?
On the opposite end of the spectrum, if you’re looking for a big city feel without paying an arm and a leg, there are 10 different zip codes in major markets where rent is under $500 a month. And rent in some of these areas can be up to 15 times less than in New York City! For one of the best examples – we’ll start with Wichita, Kansas. Out of all the zip codes in the nation’s largest rental markets, 67213 and 67211 in Wichita have some of the cheapest rent prices in the entire country, with the average cost as low as $407/month!
And if you’re asking yourself why would you want to move to Kansas? Well for some, knowing that one month of rent in Battery Park will pay a year’s worth of rent in Kansas is the only reason they need. Not to mention there are plenty of jobs in Wichita as well, especially in the aircraft manufacturing sector.
Renters looking for the cheapest US rent prices can also check out the nation’s blues capital in Memphis, Tennessee. The city of Memphis is a busy one, and has long been known as the home of blues and rock ‘n roll music, as well as some of the most delicious barbeque in the country. Plus, in addition to the renowned barbeque and bustling music scene, Memphis has three separate zip codes where the average rent price is less than $500/month.
While Wichita and Memphis may have some of the cheapest rent prices in the country, there are plenty of other affordable areas out there, too. In fact, according to RENTCafé, rent costs less than $600/month in as many as 20 zip codes.
