If you're planning to move anywhere in the continental U.S. in the next year or so, you should probably figure out if you're moving to a place with insanely unaffordable rent:
Across the US, renters pay an average of roughly $1,700 a month for their apartments — but the kind of space you'll get for that sum differs wildly from region to region.
RentCafe compared the country's 50 largest cities to see what apartment size a monthly budget of $1,700 can get you in different ZIP codes. A total of 1,665 ZIP codes were studied.
It's unsurprising that, yes, the space you'll get for $1,700 "differs wildly" depending upon where you are in the country. But when you see the numbers laid out it's especially staggering. Here's the top 10 most expensive rental markets by square footage:
Hmmm. I'm detecting something remarkably uniform about these locations.
And yes, folks, those square footage numbers are in the 200s. In any sane market that would be the size of your guest bedroom, not your entire living space.
If you move to New York City you're going to pay out the wazoo for an infinitesimally small scrap of space.
Other cities like Los Angles aren't much better. Depending where you live, you might get 300 to 600 square feet for $1,700.
Here, meanwhile, are the top 10 from the other end of the spectrum:
The lesson, clearly, is go south, young man:
Memphis's 38109 ZIP code offers the largest average apartment of any ZIP code analyzed, with a $1,700 budget getting you nearly 2,000 square feet of living space. For the same amount, a similarly spacious apartment (1,993 square feet) can be rented in ZIP code 73127, Oklahoma City.
With all that space in Oklahoma City you could do ballroom dancing and still have enough room left over for a sectional sofa!
Other southern cities like Phoenix offer a respectable 900 square feet for the price.
The last time I was a renter, in 2013, I rented a one-bedroom, 500-square-foot apartment for about $550.
That kind of deal seems unimaginable these days.
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