Most financial advisors say that renters should never pay more than 30 percent of income on rent.
As renters and landlords know, it can cost a pretty penny to live in big, happening cities. For many, even those with stable jobs, doing so means spending more of your income on rent.
While most people in these cities tend to have higher incomes — the median per capita income in New York is roughly $4,000 above the national average and in San Francisco it’s about $13,500 higher — most renters in these cities still spend more than the recommended 30 percent on rent.
In 2015, the San Francisco housing market repeatedly made news with its skyrocketing cost of living and the increasing gentrification. However, this city by the bay isn’t the only one trying to take your money.
Using data from the American Community Survey, FindTheHome examined cities with populations larger than 300,000 people and found the 50 with the highest median gross rent.
Note: Median gross rent is based off of a rental “unit.” It is important to note that the American Community Survey does not distinguish between units with different numbers of bedrooms and bathrooms.
#50. Pittsburgh, PA
Median Gross Rent: $794
Average Per Capita Income: $27,435
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 34.7%
Population: 306,045
#49. Kansas City, MO
Median Gross Rent: $796
Average Per Capita Income: $27,282
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 35%
Population: 465,005
#48. Omaha, NE
Median Gross Rent: $797
Average Per Capita Income: $27,226
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 35.1%
Population: 435,454
#47. Albuquerque, NM
Median Gross Rent: $798
Average Per Capita Income: $26,876
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 35.6%
Population: 553,576
#46. Columbus, OH
Median Gross Rent: $822
Average Per Capita Income: $24,721
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 39.9%
Population: 811,943
#45. Memphis, TN
Median Gross Rent: $831
Average Per Capita Income: $21,909
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 45.5%
Population: 656,715
#44. San Antonio, TX
Median Gross Rent: $840
Average Per Capita Income: $22,784
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 44.2%
Population: 1,385,438
#43. Dallas, TX
Median Gross Rent: $852
Average Per Capita Income: $27,917
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 36.6%
Population: 1,240,985
#42. Minneapolis, MN
Median Gross Rent: $854
Average Per Capita Income: $32,232
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 31.8%
Population: 394,424
#41. Nashville-Davidson, TN
Median Gross Rent: $858
Average Per Capita Income: $27,798
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 37%
Population: 624,261
#40. Arlington, TX
Median Gross Rent: $861
Average Per Capita Income: $25,236
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 40.9%
Population: 375,305
#39. Houston, TX
Median Gross Rent: $862
Average Per Capita Income: $27,938
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 37%
Population: 2,167,988
#38. Corpus Christi, TX
Median Gross Rent: $872
Average Per Capita Income: $25,203
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 41.5%
Population: 312,680
#37. Mesa, AZ
Median Gross Rent: $875
Average Per Capita Income: $24,427
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 43%
Population: 452,091
#36. Phoenix, AZ
Median Gross Rent: $876
Average Per Capita Income: $24,057
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 43.7%
Population: 1,490,758
#35. Fort Worth, TX
Median Gross Rent: $878
Average Per Capita Income: $24,726
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 42.6%
Population: 778,573
#34. Colorado Springs, CO
Median Gross Rent: $888
Average Per Capita Income: $29,355
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 36.3%
Population: 433,547
#33. Fresno, CA
Median Gross Rent: $890
Average Per Capita Income: $19,226
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 55.5%
Population: 506,132
#32. Charlotte, NC
Median Gross Rent: $902
Average Per Capita Income: $31,844
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 34%
Population: 774,807
#31. Denver, CO
Median Gross Rent: $913
Average Per Capita Income: $34,423
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 31.8%
Population: 633,777
#30. Raleigh, NC
Median Gross Rent: $914
Average Per Capita Income: $31,169
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 35.2%
Population: 423,287
#29. Philadelphia, PA
Median Gross Rent: $915
Average Per Capita Income: $22,542
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 48.7%
Population: 1,546,920
#28. New Orleans, LA
Median Gross Rent: $927
Average Per Capita Income: $27,255
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 40.8%
Population: 368,471
#27. Jacksonville, FL
Median Gross Rent: $932
Average Per Capita Income: $25,496
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 43.9%
Population: 837,533
#26. Baltimore, MD
Median Gross Rent: $944
Average Per Capita Income: $25,062
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 45.2%
Population: 622,271
#25. Portland, OR
Median Gross Rent: $945
Average Per Capita Income: $32,438
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 35%
Population: 602,568
#24. Tampa, FL
Median Gross Rent: $956
Average Per Capita Income: $29,704
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 38.6%
Population: 348,934
#23. Miami, FL
Median Gross Rent: $958
Average Per Capita Income: $21,724
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 52.9%
Population: 416,432
#22. Chicago, IL
Median Gross Rent: $963
Average Per Capita Income: $28,623
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 40.4%
Population: 2,712,608
#21. Atlanta, GA
Median Gross Rent: $969
Average Per Capita Income: $35,719
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 32.6%
Population: 440,641
#20. Aurora, CO
Median Gross Rent: $983
Average Per Capita Income: $24,732
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 47.7%
Population: 339,480
#19. Las Vegas, NV
Median Gross Rent: $983
Average Per Capita Income: $25,555
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 46.2%
Population: 597,353
#18. Bakersfield, CA
Median Gross Rent: $985
Average Per Capita Income: $23,786
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 49.7%
Population: 358,700
#17. Sacramento, CA
Median Gross Rent: $1,008
Average Per Capita Income: $26,060
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 46.4%
Population: 476,075
#16. Austin, TX
Median Gross Rent: $1,012
Average Per Capita Income: $32,672
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 37.2%
Population: 864,218
#15. Oakland, CA
Median Gross Rent: $1,114
Average Per Capita Income: $32,566
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 41%
Population: 402,339
#14. Long Beach, CA
Median Gross Rent: $1,118
Average Per Capita Income: $27,014
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 49.7%
Population: 468,594
#13. Seattle, WA
Median Gross Rent: $1,131
Average Per Capita Income: $44,167
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 30.7%
Population: 637,850
#12. Riverside, CA
Median Gross Rent: $1,158
Average Per Capita Income: $22,212
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 62.6%
Population: 313,041
#11. Los Angeles, CA
Median Gross Rent: $1,194
Average Per Capita Income: $28,320
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 50.6%
Population: 3,862,210
#10. New York City, NY
Median Gross Rent: $1,234
Average Per Capita Income: $32,459
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 45.6%
Population: 8,354,889
#9. Virginia Beach, VA
Median Gross Rent: $1,239
Average Per Capita Income: $32,477
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 45.8%
Population: 445,623
#8. Urban Honolulu, HI
Median Gross Rent: $1,297
Average Per Capita Income: $31,146
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 50%
Population: 345,130
#7. Boston, MA
Median Gross Rent: $1,298
Average Per Capita Income: $34,770
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 44.8%
Population: 639,594
#6. Washington D.C.
Median Gross Rent: $1,302
Average Per Capita Income: $46,502
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 33.6%
Population: 633,736
#5. Santa Ana, CA
Median Gross Rent: $1,307
Average Per Capita Income: $16,345
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 96%
Population: 331,266
#4. San Diego, CA
Median Gross Rent: $1,359
Average Per Capita Income: $33,789
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 48.3%
Population: 1,341,510
#3. Anaheim, CA
Median Gross Rent: $1,362
Average Per Capita Income: $23,990
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 68.1%
Population: 342,973
#2. San Jose, CA
Median Gross Rent: $1,528
Average Per Capita Income: $34,992
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 52.4%
Population: 986,320
#1. San Francisco, CA
Median Gross Rent: $1,533
Average Per Capita Income: $49,986
Rent as a Percentage of Average Per Capita Income (Annual): 36.8%
Population: 829,072