30 Cities for Renters Where Your Income Goes the Furthest
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“Rent in this city now averages $2,700 per month” – or whatever the figure is.
And you think to yourself, how can anyone afford to live there? It’s a good question, and the people at RentCafe have the answer. A 2024 study by the group, which analyzes the rental market, showed that high rent often comes with a high annual income in that same locale.
RentCafe found 30 cities where renters can maximize their income – where the rent and monthly expenses don’t overwhelm their budget – even if the rental price is above the national median of $2,138 as of June 2024.
In its analysis, RentCafe used the median income, average rent and average prices for the basics in 189 cities across the United States in its calculation. The cost of things such as utilities, food and healthcare are limited to specific bills. These certain grocery items frequently appear in a shopping cart and specific medical procedures, and they don’t reflect average monthly spending.
RentCafe found that some places where rent is most easily affordable are traditionally expensive places to live, including the suburbs around Silicon Valley and Washington, D.C., where incomes are commensurate.
Read on to learn the 30 cities where a renter’s money can go the farthest.
30. Jacksonville, NC
Average renter household income: $49,707
Monthly rent: $1,181
Utilities: $450
Food: $67
Healthcare: $397
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Pictured: Wilmington, NC
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29. Denver
Average renter household income: $64,681
Monthly rent: $1,975
Utilities: $331
Food: $63
Healthcare: $354
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28. Ogden, UT
Average renter household income: $50,311
Monthly rent: $1,271
Utilities: $348
Food: $65
Healthcare: $319
27. Vancouver, WA
Average renter household income: $62,288
Monthly rent: $1,711
Utilities: $362
Food: $69
Healthcare: $401
26. Lake Charles, LA
Average renter household income: $42,808
Monthly rent: $996
Utilities: $297
Food: $64
Healthcare: $346
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25. Tulsa, OK
Average renter household income: $40,603
Monthly rent: $927
Utilities: $355
Food: $64
Healthcare: $319
24. Murfreesboro, TN
Average renter household income: $53,544
Monthly rent: $1,544
Utilities: $326
Food: $62
Healthcare: $295
23. Seattle
Average renter household income: $79,285
Monthly rent: $2,252
Utilities: $390
Food: $80
Healthcare: $524
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22. Columbus, OH
Average renter household income: $48,803
Monthly rent: $1,214
Utilities: $349
Food: $66
Healthcare: $277
21. Greenville, SC
Average renter household income: $55,283
Monthly rent: $1,396
Utilities: $363
Food: $66
Healthcare: $350
20. Bloomington, IL
Average renter household income: $48,233
Monthly rent: $1,093
Utilities: $311
Food: $68
Healthcare: $405
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19. Allen, TX
Average renter household income: $62,814
Monthly rent: $1,737
Utilities: $425
Food: $59
Healthcare: $366
Pictured: Frisco, TX
18. Durham, NC
Average renter household income: $60,227
Monthly rent: $1,578
Utilities: $332
Food: $69
Healthcare: $424
17. San Jose, CA
Average renter household income: $92,952
Monthly rent: $2,974
Utilities: $440
Food: $74
Healthcare: $446
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16. Austin, TX
Average renter household income: $66,681
Monthly rent: $1,784
Utilities: $358
Food: $59
Healthcare: $368
15. Lawton, OK
Average renter household income: $42,864
Monthly rent: $830
Utilities: $354
Food: $63
Healthcare: $404
Pictured: Oklahoma City
14. Sioux Falls, SD
Average renter household income: $48,819
Monthly rent: $1,045
Utilities: $321
Food: $64
Healthcare: $408
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13. San Francisco
Average renter household income: $109,274
Monthly rent: $3,297
Utilities: $476
Food: $84
Healthcare: $489
12. Cedar Park, TX
Average renter household income: $66,479
Monthly rent: $1,657
Utilities: $405
Food: $55
Healthcare: $295
11. Conway, AR
Average renter household income: $45,625
Monthly rent: $855
Utilities: $357
Food: $60
Healthcare: $299
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Pictured: Little Rock, AR
10. Broken Arrow, OK
Average renter household income: $54,594
Monthly rent: $1,117
Utilities: $357
Food: $62
Healthcare: $335
9. Plano, TX
Average renter household income: $76,824
Monthly rent: $1,786
Utilities: $429
Food: $64
Healthcare: $413
8. Round Rock, TX
Average renter household income: $68,517
Monthly rent: $1,574
Utilities: $397
Food: $55
Healthcare: $343
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7. Scottsdale, AZ
Average renter household income: $82,865
Monthly rent: $2,084
Utilities: $321
Food: $65
Healthcare: $377
6. Westminster, CO
Average renter household income: $75,841
Monthly rent: $1,864
Utilities: $307
Food: $58
Healthcare: $289
5. Alexandria, VA
Average renter household income: $89,845
Monthly rent: $2,068
Utilities: $363
Food: $73
Healthcare: $395
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4. Bethesda, MD
Average renter household income: $99,315
Monthly rent: $2,684
Utilities: $404
Food: $73
Healthcare: $298
3. Arlington, VA
Average renter household income: $102,710
Monthly rent: $2,494
Utilities: $362
Food: $75
Healthcare: $408
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2. Surprise, AZ
Average renter household income: $86,236
Monthly rent: $1,781
Utilities: $452
Food: $59
Healthcare: $269
1. Sunnyvale, CA
Average renter household income: $145,723
Monthly rent: $3,013
Utilities: $386
Food: $90
Healthcare: $516
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 30 Cities for Renters Where Your Income Goes the Furthest