12 Cities with Least Rent for Housing

House rents make up a significant portion of an individual’s monthly spending. If you earn less and live in a city with inflated rents, your monthly income may mostly be spent on housing, leaving you with little money for groceries, utilities, etc. It often puts intense financial strain on people, affecting their quality of time. However, these challenges can be solved by relocating to a city with a comparatively affordable and accessible housing landscape.

Let’s explore 12 cities that offer great housing options at least rents.

Tulsa, Oklahoma

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Tulsa is one of the most affordable American cities with a promising housing landscape. Even if you don’t have a high income, finding a decent housing property at low rent is possible. The average rent for a decent one-bedroom apartment in Tulsa is $853/month, 44% lower than the national average. A studio apartment can be rented for merely $711/month, while a two-bedroom apartment would cost you $1,078/month.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA downtown skyline at twilight.

Whether you live alone, with your spouse, or with a big family, you can easily find a good housing property in Oklahoma City at an affordable rent. The average reported rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Oklahoma was $904/month, 41% lower than the national average. A decent studio apartment can be rented at $831/month, a two-bedroom apartment at $1,085/month, and a three-bedroom apartment at $1,344/month or more.

Dayton, Ohio

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Dayton is among the most affordable cities and has one of the lowest housing rents. People can easily find an excellent one-bedroom apartment in Dayton at a rent of 926/month, 40% lower than the national average. Two-bedroom apartments are generally available for rent at $1,207/month, and three-bedroom apartments at $1,450/month. If you live alone, you can find affordable studio apartments at $797/month.

Cincinnati, Ohio

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If you don’t want your house rent to disrupt your monthly budget, consider relocating to Cincinnati. This city is known for its comparatively affordable cost of living. You can easily find the best and most affordable housing options at the lowest rent compared to other American cities. The average rent for a good one-bedroom apartment in Cincinnati was $1,054/month, 31% lower than the national average. A studio apartment could be rented for $1,040/month and a two-bedroom apartment for $1,313.

St. Louis, Missouri

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St. Louis is the best city to live in the U.S. because of its reasonable cost of living. If you plan to shift to this city, finding good housing properties at affordable rents won’t be challenging. The average rent for a decent one-bedroom apartment in St. Louis is $1,071/month, 30% lower than the national average. While the rents have increased slightly by 0.5% compared to the previous year, you can find one of the lowest housing rents in St. Louis city. You can rent a studio apartment at $986/month and a two-bedroom apartment at $1,292/month.

Columbus, Ohio

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Columbus is an excellent city, primarily because of its affordable housing scenario. Renters can easily find the best one-bedroom apartment at a $1,101/month rent, 28% lower than the national average. Rent for a studio apartment was even lower at $962/month. If you want to rent bigger apartments, you would pay slightly higher. A two-bedroom apartment can be rented at $1,281/month and a three-bedroom apartment at $1,424/month..

Buffalo, New York

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Buffalo is the second-largest city in New York, and it is known for its good neighborhoods and renter-friendly housing landscape. The average rent for a pleasant one-bedroom apartment in Buffalo is approximately $1,115/month, 27% lower than the national average. Since rents are determined based on the property size, the rents will increase for bigger apartments. People can rent a studio apartment at $1,000/month, while a two-bedroom apartment would cost approximately $1,399/month.

Birmingham, Alabama

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Birmingham has a thriving housing landscape with numerous good properties and neighborhoods. The average rent reported for a one-bedroom apartment in Birmingham was $1,157/month, 25% lower than the national average. While the rents depend on numerous factors, such as the locality, property type, property size, etc., you can expect to rent a studio apartment at $961/month and a two-bedroom apartment at $1,251/month. Housing rentals witnessed an approximate rise of 1.7% from the previous year, yet renting housing properties remains remarkably accessible to all.

Kansas City, Missouri

MANHATTEN, KS, USA - NOVEMBER 3, 2022: Anderson Hall and Administration on the campus of Kansas State University.
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Renting good houses in Kansas City is easy for families of all sizes with varying budget preferences because of the affordable housing landscape. You can find a relatively nice one-bedroom apartment in Kansas City at a rent of $1,145/month, 25% lower than the national average. Bigger families can rent a three-bedroom apartment at $1,672/month or more. A studio apartment in Kansas can be rented for as low as $944/month and a two-bedroom apartment at $1,338/month.

Houston, Texas

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Houston often draws people for its thriving job market and pleasant standard of living, but there’s more to this dynamic city. Houston offers one of the most affordable housing environments for renters. Houston’s average rent for a one-bedroom apartment was approximately $1,171/month, 24% lower than the national average rent. Despite a 1.3% rental increase from 2023, you can expect to rent a studio apartment at $1,073/month and a two-bedroom apartment at $1,473/month.

Saint Paul, Minnesota

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Saint Paul offers a relatively relaxed housing landscape for renters. The average rent for a pleasant one-bedroom apartment in this city is approximately $1,211/month, 21% lower than the national average rent. While the housing rent depends on various factors, you may pay an average rent of $1,070/month for a typical studio apartment and $1,500+ for a two-bedroom apartment. Despite noticing a 1.5% rental increase from 2023, Saint Paul is still one of the most affordable cities for most house renters.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Pittsburgh is another excellent city known for its comparatively lower house rents. You can find numerous good apartments in pleasant neighborhoods without sky-high rents. The average rent in Pittsburgh for a standard one-bedroom apartment is approximately $1,308/month, 15% lower than the national average. Despite a 3.3% rental increase from the previous year, you can find a studio apartment at a monthly rent of $1,136/month and a two-bedroom apartment at $1,560/month.

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