Cost of living · official data
Rent and cost of living by city
The 70 places we track for rent caps, side by side with the official measures of what it costs to live there: how high prices and housing costs run (BEA), what HUD sets as a two-bedroom Fair Market Rent, and what renters actually pay and earn (Census). Select a column to re-sort.
Compare two places → Can I afford my rent? →
| # | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | San JoséCalifornia | 5% | 110.4metro | 211.9 | $3,272 | $2,669city | $146,427 | 30.1% |
| 02 | Mountain ViewCalifornia | 2.5% | 110.4metro | 211.9 | $3,272 | $3,062city | $189,917 | 23.1% |
| 03 | San FranciscoCalifornia | 1.6% | 115.6metro | 194.7 | $3,697 | $2,476city | $140,970 | 25.1% |
| 04 | OaklandCalifornia | 2.3% | 115.6metro | 194.7 | $2,805 | $1,979city | $101,600 | 30.6% |
| 05 | BerkeleyCalifornia | 1.0% | 115.6metro | 194.7 | $2,805 | $2,133city | $108,092 | 34.0% |
| 06 | Richmond, CACalifornia | 1.5% | 115.6metro | 194.7 | $2,805 | $1,960city | $95,391 | 34.5% |
| 07 | East Palo AltoCalifornia | 2% | 115.6metro | 194.7 | $3,697 | $2,244city | $113,493 | 34.9% |
| 08 | Alameda, CACalifornia | 2.7% | 115.6metro | 194.7 | $2,805 | $2,474city | $137,697 | 27.9% |
| 09 | HaywardCalifornia | 5% | 115.6metro | 194.7 | $2,805 | $2,391city | $113,318 | 31.9% |
| 10 | ConcordCalifornia | 5% | 115.6metro | 194.7 | $2,805 | $2,274city | $108,709 | 36.2% |
| 11 | Union City, CACalifornia | 8.8% | 115.6metro | 194.7 | $2,805 | $2,713city | $133,715 | 28.8% |
| 12 | Antioch, CACalifornia | 2.04% | 115.6metro | 194.7 | $2,805 | $2,278city | $97,465 | 37.3% |
| 13 | San DiegoCalifornia | 8.2% | 111.9metro | 179.3 | $2,823 | $2,313city | $108,077 | 32.4% |
| 14 | Los Angeles (RSO)California | 3% | 113.6metro | 170.4 | $2,964 | $1,933city | $81,939 | 35.0% |
| 15 | Santa MonicaCalifornia | 2.6% | 113.6metro | 170.4 | $2,964 | $2,402city | $114,885 | 27.5% |
| 16 | West HollywoodCalifornia | Not confirmed | 113.6metro | 170.4 | $2,964 | $2,091city | $96,995 | 27.9% |
| 17 | Los Angeles County (unincorporated areas)California | 1.919% | 113.6metro | 170.4 | $2,964 | $1,954county | $90,112 | 34.1% |
| 18 | PasadenaCalifornia | 2.5% | 113.6metro | 170.4 | $2,964 | $2,265city | $105,192 | 31.5% |
| 19 | Culver CityCalifornia | 3.25% | 113.6metro | 170.4 | $2,964 | $2,737city | $117,389 | 31.2% |
| 20 | InglewoodCalifornia | 3.7%–8.7% | 113.6metro | 170.4 | $2,964 | $1,787city | $72,750 | 35.5% |
| 21 | Glendale, CACalifornia | 8.7% | 113.6metro | 170.4 | $2,964 | $2,182city | $88,393 | 37.8% |
| 22 | Long Beach, CACalifornia | 8.7% | 113.6metro | 170.4 | $2,964 | $1,871city | $87,430 | 32.8% |
| 23 | Anaheim, CACalifornia | 8.7% | 113.6metro | 170.4 | $3,057 | $2,175city | $95,227 | 35.9% |
| 24 | Santa Ana, CACalifornia | 2.87% | 113.6metro | 170.4 | $3,057 | $2,082city | $93,999 | 31.9% |
| 25 | Pomona, CACalifornia | 5% | 113.6metro | 170.4 | $2,964 | $1,810city | $79,479 | 36.0% |
| 26 | Santa Cruz (city)California | 8.6% | 109.9metro | 164.3 | $4,254 | $2,452city | $115,475 | 32.5% |
| 27 | WatsonvilleCalifornia | 8.6% | 109.9metro | 164.3 | $4,254 | $1,889city | $78,393 | 33.8% |
| 28 | CapitolaCalifornia | 8.6% | 109.9metro | 164.3 | $4,254 | $2,512city | $102,976 | 28.2% |
| 29 | Scotts ValleyCalifornia | 8.6% | 109.9metro | 164.3 | $4,254 | $2,491city | $143,750 | 30.0% |
| 30 | Santa Cruz County (unincorporated areas)California | 8.6% | 109.9metro | 164.3 | $4,254 | $2,264county | $111,093 | 31.1% |
| 31 | Miami, FLFlorida | No cap | 114.2metro | 155.6 | $2,564 | $1,758city | $62,462 | 37.0% |
| 32 | California (statewide, AB 1482)California | 8.1–8.8% | 110.7state | 154.3 | – | $2,036state | $99,122 | 32.8% |
| 33 | Seattle, WAWashington | 9.683% | 111.1metro | 151.3 | $2,549 | $2,030city | $123,860 | 27.4% |
| 34 | Tacoma, WAWashington | 9.683% | 111.1metro | 151.3 | $2,064 | $1,676city | $85,884 | 32.4% |
| 35 | Washington, DCDistrict of Columbia | 4.1% | 108.9metro | 151.1 | $2,438 | $1,954city | $109,870 | 28.6% |
| 36 | Montgomery County, MDMaryland | 5.2% | 108.9metro | 151.1 | $2,438 | $2,068county | $132,450 | 30.8% |
| 37 | Takoma Park, MDMaryland | 3% | 108.9metro | 151.1 | $2,438 | $1,432city | $108,136 | 32.6% |
| 38 | Prince George's County, MDMaryland | 5.7% | 108.9metro | 151.1 | $2,438 | $1,799county | $101,798 | 31.6% |
| 39 | New York City (rent-stabilized)New York | 0% | 112.6metro | 148.6 | $2,971 | $1,821city | $80,483 | 31.3% |
| 40 | Jersey City, NJNew Jersey | 4% | 112.6metro | 148.6 | $2,792 | $2,007city | $97,710 | 27.5% |
| 41 | Hoboken, NJNew Jersey | 4.3% | 112.6metro | 148.6 | $2,792 | $2,938city | $180,579 | 23.8% |
| 42 | Newark, NJNew Jersey | Not confirmed | 112.6metro | 148.6 | $2,233 | $1,392city | $52,060 | 33.7% |
| 43 | New Brunswick, NJNew Jersey | 3.3% | 112.6metro | 148.6 | $2,623 | $1,814city | $65,810 | 35.2% |
| 44 | Paterson, NJNew Jersey | 5% | 112.6metro | 148.6 | $2,282 | $1,548city | $55,997 | 35.6% |
| 45 | Elizabeth, NJNew Jersey | 3% | 112.6metro | 148.6 | $2,233 | $1,523city | $66,555 | 32.0% |
| 46 | Boston, MAMassachusetts | No cap | 108.3metro | 148.4 | $3,008 | $2,147city | $97,344 | 30.6% |
| 47 | Denver, COColorado | No cap | 105.8metro | 146.9 | $2,169 | $1,831city | $94,718 | 29.2% |
| 48 | Trenton, NJNew Jersey | 4% | 103.2metro | 135.1 | $2,242 | $1,294city | $52,537 | 34.0% |
| 49 | Sacramento, CACalifornia | 8.6% | 106.7metro | 130.2 | $2,201 | $1,779city | $87,321 | 32.8% |
| 50 | Washington (statewide, 2025 law)Washington | 9.683% | 107.0state | 126.0 | – | $1,760state | $98,141 | 30.0% |
| 51 | Portland, OROregon | 9.5% | 105.4metro | 125.1 | $1,878 | $1,655city | $90,919 | 31.4% |
| 52 | Phoenix, AZArizona | No cap | 103.3metro | 121.2 | $1,734 | $1,582city | $81,332 | 31.0% |
| 53 | Austin, TXTexas | No cap | 98.1metro | 120.4 | $1,817 | $1,729city | $93,658 | 29.1% |
| 54 | Dallas, TXTexas | No cap | 103.1metro | 117.9 | $1,807 | $1,472city | $70,518 | 30.9% |
| 55 | Las Vegas, NVNevada | No cap | 100.2metro | 115.5 | $1,686 | $1,563city | $73,877 | 34.7% |
| 56 | Philadelphia, PAPennsylvania | No cap | 102.6metro | 113.1 | $1,860 | $1,397city | $61,953 | 31.4% |
| 57 | Chicago, ILIllinois | No cap | 103.6metro | 112.0 | $2,011 | $1,440city | $77,902 | 29.3% |
| 58 | Saint Paul, MNMinnesota | 3% | 104.8metro | 111.8 | $1,734 | $1,281city | $73,394 | 30.0% |
| 59 | Minneapolis, MNMinnesota | No cap | 104.8metro | 111.8 | $1,734 | $1,371city | $80,846 | 29.3% |
| 60 | Atlanta, GAGeorgia | No cap | 100.1metro | 111.0 | $1,762 | $1,711city | $85,652 | 30.9% |
| 61 | Salem, OROregon | 9.5% | 103.6metro | 110.3 | $1,692 | $1,400city | $75,487 | 32.5% |
| 62 | Oregon (statewide)Oregon | 9.5% | 103.4state | 108.6 | – | $1,525state | $83,011 | 31.3% |
| 63 | Portland, MEMaine | 2.2% | 101.9metro | 105.2 | $2,353 | $1,577city | $79,540 | 30.6% |
| 64 | Houston, TXTexas | No cap | 98.6metro | 104.5 | $1,497 | $1,361city | $64,813 | 32.1% |
| 65 | Eugene, OROregon | 9.5% | 101.6metro | 98.3 | $1,546 | $1,402city | $66,562 | 35.1% |
| 66 | Charlotte, NCNorth Carolina | No cap | 97.3metro | 97.6 | $1,785 | $1,612city | $82,068 | 29.9% |
| 67 | Spokane, WAWashington | 9.683% | 100.3metro | 97.1 | $1,494 | $1,215city | $70,064 | 31.6% |
| 68 | Fresno, CACalifornia | 8.6% | 102.2metro | 95.7 | $1,685 | $1,421city | $70,991 | 34.1% |
| 69 | San Antonio, TXTexas | No cap | 94.7metro | 94.6 | $1,441 | $1,324city | $65,056 | 32.0% |
| 70 | Bakersfield, CACalifornia | 8.6% | 100.9metro | 90.3 | $1,656 | $1,472city | $80,540 | 33.8% |
About these figures
What each column measures
Prices and Housing are BEA Regional Price Parities: price levels relative to the US average (US all items = 100). They describe the metro area the place is in (using OMB’s July 2023 metro definitions), or the whole state on statewide pages. FMR 2BR is HUD’s Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in the place’s HUD area; HUD doesn’t publish statewide FMRs. Median rent (gross rent, including utilities), median income (household) and rent/income (median gross rent as a share of household income, for renters) come from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey 5-year estimates for the city itself, or the county or state on those pages.
Rent cap is the current cap we track for that place; see each page for who is covered. These figures don’t affect the legal cap.
Gaps
- California (statewide, AB 1482): HUD sets Fair Market Rents by metro area or county, not statewide; see the city and county pages.
- Oregon (statewide): HUD sets Fair Market Rents by metro area or county, not statewide; see the city and county pages.
- Washington (statewide, 2025 law): HUD sets Fair Market Rents by metro area or county, not statewide; see the city and county pages.
Sources
- BEA Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area (MARPP) ↗ · 2024 (released February 19, 2026) · about the data ↗ · retrieved Oct 18, 2026
- BEA Regional Price Parities by state (SARPP) ↗ · 2024 (released February 19, 2026) · about the data ↗ · retrieved Oct 18, 2026
- OMB metropolitan area delineations (Census list 1, July 2023) ↗ · July 2023 (OMB Bulletin 23-01) · retrieved Oct 18, 2026
- HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2027 (county-level data file) ↗ · FY2027 · about the data ↗ · retrieved Oct 18, 2026
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (tables B25064, B19013, B25071) ↗ · 2020–2024 · about the data ↗ · retrieved Oct 18, 2026
Figures are updated once a year when the agencies publish new releases. Last refreshed October 18, 2026.