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9 Most Expensive U.S. Cities for Renters (#1 Surprised Us)

People shell out the most of their paycheck for rent in these cities across the country.

By Calista Headrick

Edited by Lauren Gordon

Updated Jan. 25, 2025

According to Redfin, Americans spend an average of $1,592 on rent each month. And, according to a survey from the national real estate brokerage, one in five renters say all of their regular income is spent directly on rent.

With such high rental costs and homeownership becoming increasingly unrealistic, it’s not getting any easier for consumers. But in some places, it's even more difficult than in others.

FinanceBuzz analyzed government and housing industry data from America’s 100 largest cities to find out which cities are most expensive for renters. Here are the nine U.S. cities to avoid if you want to lower your financial stress. Residents in these cities spend the highest percentage of their monthly income on rent.

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Anaheim, California

In the home of Disneyland, despite a decent household income of $85,133, residents are putting 28% of their income toward paying their rent, according to the FinanceBuzz study. In December, the average rent price was $2,260 per month, according to Redfin.

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Port St. Lucie, Florida

Residents of Port St. Lucie spend an average of 28% of their income on rent each month. The median household income in this Florida city is $70,613 per year, but rental prices can be high. The average cost of rent here is $2,138.

Los Angeles, California

California is known for high rent prices, and in Los Angeles, Americans pay an average of $2,746 for rent each month. The median household income in the City of Angels is $76,135, but residents put 28% of their income toward rent each month.

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Santa Ana, California

Another California city where renting is increasingly unattainable is Santa Ana. Renters here spend an average of 29% of their monthly income on housing. Even though residents earn almost $80,000 per household, the average rent is $2,980 per month, which can take a big bite out of your paycheck.

Cleveland, Ohio

Residents here make a fairly low salary per year ($37,351) and are spending 29% of their monthly income on housing costs. In Cleveland, you can expect to pay an average of $1,395 per month on rent.

Orlando, Florida

In Orlando, where residents can visit popular attractions such as Disney World, renters put an average of 29% of their income toward their housing each month. You can expect an average household income of $65,354 in this central Florida city. The average rent comes in at just over $1,700 per month.

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Miami, Florida

This city in Florida also makes the list of most expensive cities for renters. Here, residents spend 31% of their monthly income on rent and make an average of $60,989 per year. Renting in Miami will run you about $2,845 each month.

Newark, New Jersey

In Newark, renters also put 31% of their monthly income toward covering housing costs. The city has a median household income of $49,688, and the average price for rent is $2,495.

Detroit, Michigan

Which city is the most expensive in the U.S. for renters? Detroit takes the spot. The average cost of rent here is on the cheaper side compared to other cities ($1,665), but with residents only making an average of $36,453 per year — the lowest on this list — renters are using 33% of their household income each month to pay their rent.

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Bottom line

According to another Redfin survey, the number of renter households is growing three times faster than homeowner households. Why? Despite rising rental prices, the cost of buying a house has risen faster than the cost of renting one. It’s not surprising then that more and more people look toward renting to save money.

Still, renting has proven difficult for Americans, especially in cities such as these, where residents must put a high percentage of their monthly paychecks toward covering their rent.

There are clever ways to save money and help pay your rent. You may consider living with a roommate so costs are shared, downsizing, or building better budgeting habits. Being smart about how you spend your money will help you keep more cash in your wallet in the long run.

More from FinanceBuzz:

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