This monthly rent tracker is built for renters who want a quick way to compare apartment prices city by city, then return later to see what changed. The latest reports show that rent pressure is still uneven: some markets are setting records, while others are easing or shifting rank as supply and demand move in different directions.
Latest rent snapshot
| Market view | Latest figure | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| National 1-bedroom median rent | $1,508 | Up 0.4% month over month in Zumper’s latest national report |
| National 2-bedroom median rent | $1,895 | Up 0.8% month over month and moving closer to prior highs |
| Annual national trend | Still slightly negative | One-bedrooms are down 0.6% year over year; two-bedrooms are down 0.3% |
| Record watch | Active | Both unit types are close to previous peaks and could challenge records if the current pace holds |
| Standout city headline | San Francisco | One-bedrooms hit $3,850 and two-bedrooms reached $5,340, both record highs in Zumper data |
| Ranking shift | Los Angeles | Fell out of the top 10 markets in the Zumper report, while Chicago re-entered the top 10 |
For returning readers, the main story is simple: national rents are edging upward again, but city-level conditions are moving at very different speeds. That is why this tracker is designed to be refreshed monthly.
How to use this tracker
- Use this page as a monthly checkpoint, not a one-time snapshot.
- Compare studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom pricing separately when source data is available.
- Watch whether each figure comes from a national median asking-rent report or a city guide, since those sources are not perfectly comparable.
- Use national medians to understand the broader market, then use city tables to see where your budget stretches further or less far.
- Expect city-level pricing to differ sharply from the national average, especially in coastal and high-growth markets.
City-by-city rent table
The table below uses the city-guide figures supplied in the evidence pack. It is useful for cross-city comparison, while the national report above gives the broader trend context.
| City | 1-bedroom | 2-bedroom | Vs. national average |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York City, NY | $3,400 | $4,000 | +119% |
| San Francisco, CA | $3,200 | $4,200 | +106% |
| San Jose, CA | $2,900 | $3,600 | +87% |
| Boston, MA | $2,800 | $3,500 | +81% |
| Los Angeles, CA | $2,400 | $3,200 | +55% |
| Seattle, WA | $2,200 | $2,900 | +42% |
| Washington, DC | $2,200 | $3,000 | +42% |
| Chicago, IL | $1,750 | $2,100 | +13% |
| Denver, CO | $1,800 | $2,400 | +16% |
| Austin, TX | $1,700 | $2,200 | +10% |
| Dallas, TX | $1,500 | $1,900 | -3% |
| Phoenix, AZ | $1,400 | $1,800 | -10% |
| Houston, TX | $1,400 | $1,750 | -10% |
| Kansas City, MO | $1,150 | $1,400 | -26% |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $950 | $1,150 | -39% |
| Tulsa, OK | $850 | $1,050 | -45% |
| Wichita, KS | $750 | $950 | -52% |
Using the city-guide national average of $1,550 for a one-bedroom and $1,850 for a two-bedroom, Wichita, Tulsa, and Oklahoma City sit well below the benchmark, while New York, San Francisco, Boston, and San Jose remain far above it.
Most expensive cities for renters
- New York City, NY — $3,400 for a one-bedroom and $4,000 for a two-bedroom, both far above the national average.
- San Francisco, CA — Zumper’s latest report shows one-bedrooms at $3,850 and two-bedrooms at $5,340, the highest prices ever recorded in that dataset.
- San Jose, CA — $2,900 for a one-bedroom and $3,600 for a two-bedroom, keeping the South Bay among the most expensive rental markets.
- Boston, MA — $2,800 for a one-bedroom and $3,500 for a two-bedroom, still one of the priciest East Coast markets.
- Los Angeles, CA — Still expensive, but Zumper says it has slipped out of the top 10 markets as new supply and softer demand push rents lower.
For affordability planning, the city guide also gives an income-needed estimate based on the 30% rule. New York City points to about $136,000 in after-tax income needed for a one-bedroom, San Francisco about $128,000, San Jose about $116,000, and Boston about $112,000.
Most affordable cities for renters
- Wichita, KS — $750 for a one-bedroom and $950 for a two-bedroom.
- Tulsa, OK — $850 for a one-bedroom and $1,050 for a two-bedroom.
- Oklahoma City, OK — $950 for a one-bedroom and $1,150 for a two-bedroom.
- Kansas City, MO — $1,150 for a one-bedroom and $1,400 for a two-bedroom.
These cities sit well below the national average in the cited city guide. They are useful reference points for renters deciding whether a move is realistic or whether a current market is still too tight.
Studio vs. 1-bedroom vs. 2-bedroom trends
The evidence pack does not provide a clean national studio median from the same monthly source as the bedroom-type data below, so this tracker keeps the national comparison centered on the figures that are directly supported by the reports.
| Unit type | Latest supported figure | Trend signal |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | Virginia example: $1,618 per month | State-level reference only; useful as a directional check, not a national benchmark |
| 1-bedroom | $1,508 national median in Zumper | Up 0.4% month over month; annual declines narrowed to 0.6% |
| 2-bedroom | $1,895 national median in Zumper | Up 0.8% month over month; annual declines narrowed to 0.3% |
Within the supported national data, two-bedrooms are rising a little faster than one-bedrooms. That matters for renters who are deciding whether to stay flexible on unit size or stretch for extra space.
Regional patterns to watch
- West Coast: High-cost coastal markets are still the strongest pressure point, with San Francisco setting the pace and Los Angeles cooling relative to prior ranking.
- Northeast: New York and Boston remain expensive anchors, keeping the region near the top of affordability stress.
- South: The region includes both pricey markets such as Miami in the broader city guide and more budget-friendly cities such as Tulsa and Oklahoma City.
- Midwest: Chicago re-entered the top 10 in Zumper’s report, while Wichita and Kansas City remain far below the national average in the city guide.
- Mountain West: Denver and Phoenix remain notable mid-to-high cost markets, even as their relative position can shift month to month.
Rent growth is not uniform across the country. A city can cool even while the national median inches up, and a lower-cost market can still move sharply enough to change budget plans within a few months.
Affordability and income checks
- Use the 30% of gross income rule as a baseline when comparing cities and unit sizes.
- New York City’s one-bedroom rent of $3,400 maps to an income-needed estimate of about $136,000 in the city guide.
- San Francisco’s $3,200 one-bedroom figure maps to about $128,000 in the city guide, while the Zumper report shows an even higher current city-level median of $3,850.
- Boston’s one-bedroom rent of $2,800 points to about $112,000 in income needed, and San Jose’s $2,900 points to about $116,000.
- Always compare rent against take-home pay, not just gross income, and include utilities, transit, parking, and insurance in the budget.
If you are balancing rent against long-term housing goals, this is also a good time to compare renting and buying. For planning a search, a checklist can help narrow your options before you start touring listings.
Related reading: The Ultimate House-Hunting Checklist — Reimagined for Today's Competitive Markets
What changed since the last update
- National one-bedroom and two-bedroom medians both moved higher again in Zumper’s latest report.
- Annual declines narrowed, suggesting the national market is stabilizing near prior peaks.
- San Francisco strengthened its lead with record pricing and the strongest annual rent growth in the Zumper report.
- Los Angeles slipped out of the top 10 in that same report.
- Chicago returned to the top 10, showing that the expensive-city list can change even when national movement is modest.
Next month to revisit
- Watch San Francisco, New York, and Boston for possible record-adjacent pricing changes.
- Track Los Angeles and Chicago for further rank shifts.
- Refresh studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom figures as soon as new source data is available.
- Add any city that starts moving faster than the national average, especially outside the coastal tier.
- Update affordability notes so readers can compare rent against budget before their search begins or restarts.
This tracker is most useful when you revisit it regularly. Rent markets move unevenly, and the city that looks out of reach today may be more manageable next month, while a previously affordable market may be climbing faster than expected.