Major Cities with Cheapest Rents!

New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Boston are without doubt terrific cities; but you’d be right foolish to believe that they’re the only American cities worth living in. With some rents in major metropolitan cities rising upwards of 10% this year, it might be time to consider certain other roads, or zip codes, less traveled by. As Business Week reported recently, there are plenty of other, less expensive options for those urban dwellers that want their city at more reasonable prices. Did you know that the average January temperature in San Antonio is 50 degrees? Or that Austin hosts a gigantic outdoor music festival every September called the Austin City Limits? Or, even that Indianapolis is home to both the Indy 500 AND the Brickyard 400?

Below you can find average rent levels for a 1000 sq. ft. apartment in the the top 20 most affordable metros in the country—and if you’re curious as to what other wisdom Business Week has to impart—check out the whole article here.

Oklahoma City
Average rent for class A* apartments: $723
Average rent for class B** apartments: $612

Birmingham
Average rent for class A apartments: $738
Average rent for class B apartments: $606

Memphis
Average rent for class A apartments: $761
Average rent for class B apartments: $618

Indianapolis
Average rent for class A apartments: $763
Average rent for class B apartments: $588

Columbus
Average rent for class A apartments:$769
Average rent for class B apartments: $611

Kansas City
Average rent for class A apartments: $808
Average rent for class B apartments: $633

Cincinnati
Average rent for class A apartments: $814
Average rent for class B apartments: $608

San Antonio
Average rent for class A apartments: $818
Average rent for class B apartments: $646

Charlotte
Average rent for class A apartments: $818
Average rent for class B apartments: $646

Salt Lake City
Average rent for class A apartments: $824
Average rent for class B apartments: $657

Nashville
Average rent for class A apartments: $838
Average rent for class B apartments: $682

Atlanta
Average rent for class A apartments: $847
Average rent for class B apartments: $648

Cleveland
Average rent for class A apartments: $849
Average rent for class B apartments: $680

St. Louis
Average rent for class A apartments: $864
Average rent for class B apartments: $689

Milwaukee
Average rent for class A apartments: $871
Average rent for class B apartments: $703

Dallas-Fort Worth
Average rent for class A apartments: $878
Average rent for class B apartments: $726

Jacksonville
Average rent for class A apartments: $895
Average rent for class B apartments: $658

Houston
Average rent for class A apartments: $897
Average rent for class B apartments: $722

Detroit
Average rent for class A apartments: $913
Average rent for class B apartments: $668

Austin
Average rent for class A apartments: $924
Average rent for class B apartments: $774

*Apartment complexes built or refurbished in approximately the past 15 years, generally in the most favorable locations with high levels of unit features and amenities.

**Apartment complexes built more than 15 years ago, generally in favorable locations with adequate features and amenities, but without premium rents.