Home prices in America rose about 20% nationwide last year, compared to 2020. In some cities, the pace was double that. The increase was driven by low mortgage rates and a desire of people to leave large cities with expensive home prices to other places where the median price of a home is lower. The migration also has been made possible by the fact that millions of Americans now work from home because of the COVID-19 pandemic. (This city has the most expensive houses in America.)
Rents rose rapidly last year too. Though rents rose in the 50 largest metropolitan areas, the city with the cheapest rents in America is Oklahoma City.
The median asking rents for apartments with zero to two bedrooms averaged an increase of 10.1% in 2021. The December increase reported by Realtor.com was much greater at 19.3% compared to the same month of 2020. This pushed the monthly median rent figure across America’s 50 largest cities to $1,781.
To find the 20 cities with the cheapest rents in America, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed Realtor.com’s December Rental Data, which reviews rental data in the 50 largest metropolitan areas.
Rental figures also vary based on the size of the apartment. In December, the median rent of studio apartments was $1,462, up 18.6% ($230) year-over-year. The median was $1,651 for a one-bedroom, up 19.3% ($267), and $2,003 for a two-bedroom, up 19.1% ($320), according to Realtor.com.
In three markets, rents rose over 30% in December from the same month in 2020. These were Miami at 49.8% to $2,850, Tampa at 35.0% to $2,038, and Orlando at 34.1% to $1,807. (This is the city where people cannot afford to rent a place to live.)
The study also showed the median rent by city for December and covered all 50 cities. The lowest figure was Oklahoma City at $949, which was up 15.7%. No other city had a monthly rent figure of less than $1,000.
Click here for the 20 cities with the lowest rents
20. Raleigh, NC
> Median rent: $1,532
> Change from Dec. 2020-Dec. 2021: +23.6%
[in-text-ad]
19. Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI
> Median rent: $1,527
> Change from Dec. 2020-Dec. 2021: +11.0%
18. Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
> Median rent: $1,503
> Change from Dec. 2020-Dec. 2021: +18.1%
17. Pittsburgh, PA
> Median rent: $1,500
> Change from Dec. 2020-Dec. 2021: +18.5%
[in-text-ad-2]
16. Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY
> Median rent: $1,435
> Change from Dec. 2020-Dec. 2021: +20.1%
15. Richmond, VA
> Median rent: $1,419
> Change from Dec. 2020-Dec. 2021: +18.2%
[in-text-ad]
14. Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
> Median rent: $1,400
> Change from Dec. 2020-Dec. 2021: +12.1%
24/7 Wall St.
13. Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
> Median rent: $1,400
> Change from Dec. 2020-Dec. 2021: +15.9%
12. Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
> Median rent: $1,389
> Change from Dec. 2020-Dec. 2021: +15.9%
[in-text-ad-2]
11. Cleveland-Elyria, OH
> Median rent: $1,352
> Change from Dec. 2020-Dec. 2021: +16.9%
10. Rochester, NY
> Median rent: $1,333
> Change from Dec. 2020-Dec. 2021: +11.1%
[in-text-ad]
9. Memphis, TN-MS-AR
> Median rent: $1,324
> Change from Dec. 2020-Dec. 2021: +29.4%
8. San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX
> Median rent: $1,306
> Change from Dec. 2020-Dec. 2021: +19.4%
7. St. Louis, MO-IL
> Median rent: $1,262
> Change from Dec. 2020-Dec. 2021: +9.7%
[in-text-ad-2]
6. Birmingham-Hoover, AL
> Median rent: $1,249
> Change from Dec. 2020-Dec. 2021: +22.2%
5. Columbus, OH
> Median rent: $1,247
> Change from Dec. 2020-Dec. 2021: +14.1%
[in-text-ad]
4. Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
> Median rent: $1,226
> Change from Dec. 2020-Dec. 2021: +12.0%
24/7 Wall St.
3. Kansas City, MO-KS
> Median rent: $1,225
> Change from Dec. 2020-Dec. 2021: +11.2%
2. Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
> Median rent: $1,181
> Change from Dec. 2020-Dec. 2021: +16.2%
[in-text-ad-2]
1. Oklahoma City, OK
> Median rent: $949
> Change from Dec. 2020-Dec. 2021: +15.7%
Get Ready To Retire (Sponsored)
Start by taking a quick retirement quiz from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes, or less.
Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests.
Here’s how it works:
1. Answer SmartAsset advisor match quiz
2. Review your pre-screened matches at your leisure. Check out the advisors’ profiles.
3. Speak with advisors at no cost to you. Have an introductory call on the phone or introduction in person and choose whom to work with in the future
Get started right here.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.