Yahoo Finance 100 Cheap Places To Live With Rent Less Than $2,000
When it comes to monthly expenses, rent often takes the most significant bite out of your paycheck. That’s even more true in the past few years. Rents increased by a shocking 30.4% in the U.S. between 2019 and 2023, according to a May analysis by Zillow and StreetEasy, yet wages in that same time period only increased by 20.2%.
This disparity is leaving people in a tough spot to afford their rent. However, it’s not that way in every city in the nation. In some places you can still afford your rent and your other monthly expenses without being in a tough spot.
To find 100 cheap places to live where your rent is under $2,000, GOBankingRates analyzed rent prices for cities across America and found all of them with an average rent cost under $2,000 a month during April 2024 as sourced from Zillow Observed Rental Index. Most of these cities are in the Midwest and the South, with a sprinkling of those on the East and West Coasts.
Here are 100 cheap places to live where you can find rent for less than $2,000.
Urbandale, Iowa
Average monthly rent: $1,395.65
Monthly expenditures: $1,834.77
Annual cost of living: $38,765.15
Wealthy people know the best money secrets. Learn how to copy them.
Worthington, Ohio
Average monthly rent: $1,617.50
Monthly expenditures: $1,932.45
Annual cost of living: $42,599.37
Elon, North Carolina
Average monthly rent: $600.00
Monthly expenditures: $1,818.01
Annual cost of living: $29,016.17
Pictured: Raleigh
New Albany, Ohio
Average monthly rent: $1,671.86
Monthly expenditures: $1,930.77
Annual cost of living: $43,231.55
Wausau, Wisconsin
Average monthly rent: $888.35
Monthly expenditures: $1,809.07
Annual cost of living: $32,369.00
Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin
Average monthly rent: $1,850.00
Monthly expenditures: $1,972.69
Annual cost of living: $45,872.32
Shorewood, Wisconsin
Average monthly rent: $1,165.26
Monthly expenditures: $2,006.57
Annual cost of living: $38,061.96
Brandon, South Dakota
Average monthly rent: $1,270.67
Monthly expenditures: $1,880.57
Annual cost of living: $37,814.83
Camp Hill, Pennsylvania
Average monthly rent: $1,442.89
Monthly expenditures: $2,004.06
Annual cost of living: $41,363.36
Pictured: Slatington
Bowling Green, Massachusetts
Average monthly rent: $850.00
Monthly expenditures: $1,780.00
Annual cost of living: $31,560.06
Fort Thomas, Kentucky
Average monthly rent: $1,448.33
Monthly expenditures: $1,952.55
Annual cost of living: $40,810.62
Solon, Ohio
Average monthly rent: $1,890.00
Monthly expenditures: $1,860.43
Annual cost of living: $45,005.11
Pictured: Cleveland
Parkville, Missouri
Average monthly rent: $1,544.56
Monthly expenditures: $1,980.19
Annual cost of living: $42,296.95
Pictured: St. Louis
Savoy, Illinois
Average monthly rent: $1,143.33
Monthly expenditures: $1,932.48
Annual cost of living: $36,909.80
Pictured: Chicago
Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Average monthly rent: $827.00
Monthly expenditures: $1,769.48
Annual cost of living: $31,157.75
Hilliard, Ohio
Average monthly rent: $1,555.73
Monthly expenditures: $1,925.46
Annual cost of living: $41,774.29
Coralville, Iowa
Average monthly rent: $1,089.25
Monthly expenditures: $1,835.50
Annual cost of living: $35,097.10
Austin, Minnesota
Average monthly rent: $796.25
Monthly expenditures: $1,679.47
Annual cost of living: $29,708.66
Pictured: St. Paul
Shaker Heights, Ohio
Average monthly rent: $1,609.66
Monthly expenditures: $2,051.50
Annual cost of living: $43,933.94
Pictured: Toledo
Northville, Michigan
Average monthly rent: $1,609.66
Monthly expenditures: $2,051.50
Annual cost of living: $43,933.94
Pictured: Port Huron
Jefferson City, Missouri
Average monthly rent: $800.00
Monthly expenditures: $1,905.08
Annual cost of living: $32,460.95
Manitowoc, Wisconsin
Average monthly rent: $908.50
Monthly expenditures: $1,669.75
Annual cost of living: $30,939.01
Powell, Ohio
Average monthly rent: $1,841.33
Monthly expenditures: $1,982.83
Annual cost of living: $45,889.92
Cary, North Carolina
Average monthly rent: $1,787.60
Monthly expenditures: $2,048.62
Annual cost of living: $46,034.75
Pictured: Hickory
Neenah, Wisconsin
Average monthly rent: $1,222.58
Monthly expenditures: $1,802.72
Annual cost of living: $36,303.63
Pictured: Madison
Ankeny, Iowa
Average monthly rent: $1,580.53
Monthly expenditures: $2,081.46
Annual cost of living: $43,943.83
Maplewood, Missouri
Average monthly rent: $1,031.53
Monthly expenditures: $1,899.10
Annual cost of living: $35,167.59
Pictured: Kansas City
Perrysburg, Ohio
Average monthly rent: $1,726.04
Monthly expenditures: $1,817.34
Annual cost of living: $42,520.59
Edwardsville, Illinois
Average monthly rent: $1,473.33
Monthly expenditures: $1,941.90
Annual cost of living: $40,982.79
North Liberty, Iowa
Average monthly rent: $1,343.28
Monthly expenditures: $1,904.08
Annual cost of living: $38,968.37
Pictured: Hunting
Dublin, Ohio
Average monthly rent: $1,701.76
Monthly expenditures: $1,939.91
Annual cost of living: $43,700.03
Liberty Lake, Washington
Average monthly rent: $1,691.29
Monthly expenditures: $1,828.75
Annual cost of living: $42,240.47
Clawson, Michigan
Average monthly rent: $1,525.00
Monthly expenditures: $1,966.84
Annual cost of living: $41,902.09
Pictured: Detroit
Rogers, Arkansas
Average monthly rent: $1,388.82
Monthly expenditures: $1,873.06
Annual cost of living: $39,142.59
Pictured: Bentonville
Beavercreek, Ohio
Average monthly rent: $1,707.80
Monthly expenditures: $1,857.24
Annual cost of living: $42,780.52
Fairview Park, Ohio
Average monthly rent: $1,209.00
Monthly expenditures: $1,840.82
Annual cost of living: $36,597.86
Pictured: Hilliard
Champlin, Minnesota
Average monthly rent: $1,740.88
Monthly expenditures: $1,988.34
Annual cost of living: $44,750.62
Shawnee, Kansas
Average monthly rent: $1,365.76
Monthly expenditures: $2,167.28
Annual cost of living: $42,396.47
Pictured: Lenexa
Beaver, Pennsylvania
Average monthly rent: $1,136.25
Monthly expenditures: $2,018.89
Annual cost of living: $37,861.68
Farmington Hills, Michigan
Average monthly rent: $1,162.45
Monthly expenditures: $2,059.05
Annual cost of living: $38,658.05
Johnston, Iowa
Average monthly rent: $1,327.62
Monthly expenditures: $1,858.07
Annual cost of living: $38,228.36
Millvale, Pennsylvania
Average monthly rent: $885.00
Monthly expenditures: $1,995.82
Annual cost of living: $34,569.86
Pictured: Philadelphia
Clayton, Missouri
Average monthly rent: $1,733.04
Monthly expenditures: $1,923.66
Annual cost of living: $43,880.44
Pictured: Columbia
Goshen, Indiana
Average monthly rent: $899.38
Monthly expenditures: $1,759.72
Annual cost of living: $31,909.20
Bettendorf, Iowa
Average monthly rent: $1,090.09
Monthly expenditures: $2,043.52
Annual cost of living: $37,603.27
Fort Mitchell, Kentucky
Average monthly rent: $1,200.00
Monthly expenditures: $1,970.25
Annual cost of living: $38,043.04
Pictured: Frankfort
Sixteen Mile Stand, Ohio
Average monthly rent: $1,577.44
Monthly expenditures: $1,998.82
Annual cost of living: $42,915.18
Pictured: Cleveland
Apex, North Carolina
Average monthly rent: $1,928.76
Monthly expenditures: $1,937.49
Annual cost of living: $46,395.04
Idaho Falls, Idaho
Average monthly rent: $1,182.41
Monthly expenditures: $1,902.61
Annual cost of living: $37,020.25
Newton, Iowa
Average monthly rent: $675.00
Monthly expenditures: $1,834.66
Annual cost of living: $30,115.97
Pictured: Des Moines
Richmond, Indiana
Average monthly rent: $942.22
Monthly expenditures: $1,675.65
Annual cost of living: $31,414.47
Pictured: Indianapolis
Plymouth, Michigan
Average monthly rent: $1,253.83
Monthly expenditures: $2,215.19
Annual cost of living: $41,628.24
Pictured: Barton Hills
Strongsville, Ohio
Average monthly rent: $1,667.50
Monthly expenditures: $1,876.00
Annual cost of living: $42,521.96
Pictured: Cleveland
Ames, Iowa
Average monthly rent: $1,070.00
Monthly expenditures: $2,159.96
Annual cost of living: $38,759.50
Boone, Iowa
Average monthly rent: $800.00
Monthly expenditures: $1,852.95
Annual cost of living: $31,835.37
Zionsville, Iowa
Average monthly rent: $1,759.80
Monthly expenditures: $1,971.43
Annual cost of living: $44,774.72
Hoover, Alabama
Average monthly rent: $1,361.26
Monthly expenditures: $2,018.13
Annual cost of living: $40,552.72
Pictured: Birmingham
Sioux Falls, North Dakota
Average monthly rent: $1,174.04
Monthly expenditures: $1,961.84
Annual cost of living: $37,630.57
South Euclid, Ohio
Average monthly rent: $1,469.61
Monthly expenditures: $1,810.32
Annual cost of living: $39,359.23
Pictured: Boomtown
Keller, Texas
Average monthly rent: $1,963.78
Monthly expenditures: $2,135.25
Annual cost of living: $49,188.39
Berkley, Michigan
Average monthly rent: $1,857.50
Monthly expenditures: $2,001.61
Annual cost of living: $46,309.31
Pictured: Ann Arbor
Marion, Iowa
Average monthly rent: $1,040.52
Monthly expenditures: $2,082.37
Annual cost of living: $37,474.71
University Heights, Ohio
Average monthly rent: $1,960.00
Monthly expenditures: $1,812.85
Annual cost of living: $45,274.16
Waukee, Iowa
Average monthly rent: $1,642.72
Monthly expenditures: $1,876.46
Annual cost of living: $42,230.10
Pictured: Feliz
Washington, Pennsylvania
Average monthly rent: $967.64
Monthly expenditures: $1,903.36
Annual cost of living: $34,452.02
Pictured: Camden
Tea, South Dakota
Average monthly rent: $1,068.33
Monthly expenditures: $1,890.00
Annual cost of living: $35,499.98
Pictured: Deadwood
Wyncote, Pennsylvania
Average monthly rent: $1,780.69
Monthly expenditures: $2,121.42
Annual cost of living: $46,825.37
Pictured: Johnston
Shakopee, Minnesota
Average monthly rent: $1,807.01
Monthly expenditures: $1,927.74
Annual cost of living: $44,817.02
Pictured: Minneapolis
Lakewood, Ohio
Average monthly rent: $1,330.36
Monthly expenditures: $1,841.55
Annual cost of living: $38,062.94
Fargo, North Dakota
Average monthly rent:$1,050.06
Monthly expenditures: $1,991.99
Annual cost of living: $36,504.59
Dubuque, Iowa
Average monthly rent: $1,101.42
Monthly expenditures: $2,075.15
Annual cost of living: $38,118.83
Mauldin, South Carolina
Average monthly rent: $1,380.17
Monthly expenditures: $1,840.69
Annual cost of living: $38,650.30
Pictured: Myrtle Beach
Fort Dodge, Iowa
Average monthly rent: $689.44
Monthly expenditures: $1,818.70
Annual cost of living: $30,097.71
Vestavia Hills, Alabama
Average monthly rent: $1,698.52
Monthly expenditures: $2,033.52
Annual cost of living: $44,784.56
Lynchburg, Virginia
Average monthly rent: $1,242.79
Monthly expenditures: $2,051.91
Annual cost of living: $39,536.43
Roscoe, Illinois
Average monthly rent: $1,466.67
Monthly expenditures: $1,939.35
Annual cost of living: $40,872.18
Pictured: Galena
Carmel, Indiana
Average monthly rent: $1,862.86
Monthly expenditures: $1,942.29
Annual cost of living: $45,661.78
Pictured: Terre Haute
Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Average monthly rent: $1,488.11
Monthly expenditures: $1,817.99
Annual cost of living: $39,673.23
Pictured: Toledo
Richmond Heights, Missouri
Average monthly rent: $1,466.11
Monthly expenditures: $1,902.42
Annual cost of living: $40,422.42
Pictured: St. Louis
Winona, Massachusetts
Average monthly rent: $1,042.72
Monthly expenditures: $1,695.40
Annual cost of living: $32,857.43
Pictured: Arlington
Decatur, Georgia
Average monthly rent: $1,827.81
Monthly expenditures: $2,150.10
Annual cost of living: $47,734.88
Pocatello, Idaho
Average monthly rent: $1,074.06
Monthly expenditures: $1,901.69
Annual cost of living: $35,709.04
Carnegie, Pennsylvania
Average monthly rent: $991.88
Monthly expenditures: $2,004.46
Annual cost of living: $35,956.03
Holland, Michigan
Average monthly rent: $1,301.78
Monthly expenditures: $1,788.70
Annual cost of living: $37,085.72
Pictured: Detroit
West Des Moines, Iowa
Average monthly rent: $1,309.65
Monthly expenditures: $2,036.30
Annual cost of living: $40,151.34
Bellevue, Kentucky
Average monthly rent: $1,546.67
Monthly expenditures: $1,957.67
Annual cost of living: $42,052.09
Pictured: Frankfurt
Richfield, Minnesota
Average monthly rent: $1,349.44
Monthly expenditures: $1,941.51
Annual cost of living: $39,491.35
Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Average monthly rent: $1,701.12
Monthly expenditures: $2,159.93
Annual cost of living: $46,332.59
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Average monthly rent: $1,174.12
Monthly expenditures: $1,867.93
Annual cost of living: $36,504.67
Twinsburg, Ohio
Average monthly rent: $1,357.67
Monthly expenditures: $1,833.30
Annual cost of living: $38,291.62
Pictured: Columbus
Leawood, Kansas
Average monthly rent: $1,730.83
Monthly expenditures: $2,190.19
Annual cost of living: $47,052.31
Waterloo, Iowa
Average monthly rent: $834.79
Monthly expenditures: $1,970.88
Annual cost of living: $33,668.02
Rochester, Minnesota
Average monthly rent: $1,589.37
Monthly expenditures: $2,144.35
Annual cost of living: $44,804.66
Perry Hall, Maryland
Average monthly rent: $1,571.67
Monthly expenditures: $2,097.47
Annual cost of living: $44,029.66
Pictured: Baltimore
Mount Pleasant, Michigan
Average monthly rent: $1,004.17
Monthly expenditures: $1,763.97
Annual cost of living: $33,217.66
Pictured: Detroit
Orem, Utah
Average monthly rent: $1,502.20
Monthly expenditures: $2,022.48
Annual cost of living: $42,296.14
Pictured: Provo
North Wales, Pennsylvania
Average monthly rent: $1,639.13
Monthly expenditures: $2,068.33
Annual cost of living: $44,489.52
Pictured: Lewisburg
Springboro, Ohio
Average monthly rent: $1,671.25
Monthly expenditures: $1,892.56
Annual cost of living: $42,765.76
Pictured: Youngstown
Findlay, Ohio
Average monthly rent: $1,211.44
Monthly expenditures: $1,679.24
Annual cost of living: $34,688.18
Lake Jackson, Texas
Average monthly rent: $1,378.42
Monthly expenditures: $1,816.09
Annual cost of living: $38,334.20
Pictured: Georgetown
Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed rent prices for cities across the United States to find cheap places with a rent less than $2,000. First, GOBankingRates found all the cities with an average rent cost under $2,000 a month during April 2024 as sourced from Zillow Observed Rental Index. For each city the cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperlings BestPlaces and used with the national average expenditure costs for all residents as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, to find the average expenditure cost for each city. The total cost of living can be calculated by using the average expenditure cost and the average rent cost. The livability index was sourced from AreaVibes for each city to distinguish between the quality of life of the different cities. The household median income was scored and weighted at 1.00, the livability index was scored and weighted at 1.00, and the total cost of living was scored and weighted at 1.00. All three scores were summed and sorted to show the cheap places to live with rent less than $2,000. All data was collected on and is up-to-date as-of May 30th, 2024.
More From GOBankingRates
I'm a Shopping Expert: 6 Things Retirees Should Never Put In Their Grocery Cart
6 Things to Try This Week if You're Behind on Your Savings Goals
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 100 Cheap Places To Live With Rent Less Than $2,000
