Yahoo Finance What Is the Hourly Rate Needed To Afford Rent for 2 Across 100 Cities in the US?
Limiting your housing costs to 30% of your income is a longtime financial guideline, but it’s well out of reach for many Americans. The high cost of rent is one of the biggest reasons.
If you’re paying rent for two people in one of America’s 100 largest cities, you’ll need to earn between $9.97 an hour and $33.88 an hour on average — if you stick to the 30% rule. That’s according to data compiled by GOBankingRates, sourced from Zillow’s April 2024 data.
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Based on those numbers, you’ll fall well short if you’re living off the federal minimum wage, which has been stuck at $7.25 an hour since 2009. The minimum wage is considerably higher in some states and cities across the country. But even the highest minimum wage city — Tukwila, Washington at $20.29 an hour for large employers — wouldn’t get you there for the 22 most expensive cities in this list.
With numbers like that, it’s no wonder that Americans on average exceeded the 30% threshold in 2023.
There’s only one city in the list of 100 — Wichita, Kansas — where you can theoretically earn less than $10 an hour and afford rent for two. A year’s rent there will run you about $12,400 on average. In the most expensive of America’s largest cities, that figure jumps to over $42,000.
Here’s the full list, ranked from least to most expensive:
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100. Wichita, Kansas
2024 average monthly rent: $1,037
2024 average yearly rent: $12,443
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $9.97
99. Toledo, Ohio
2024 average monthly rent: $1,068
2024 average yearly rent: $12,811
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $10.26
98. Fort Wayne, Indiana
2024 average monthly rent: $1,226
2024 average yearly rent: $14,708
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $11.79
97. Tulsa, Oklahoma
2024 average monthly rent: $1,233
2024 average yearly rent: $14,791
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $11.85
96. Oklahoma City
2024 average monthly rent: $1,257
2024 average yearly rent: $15,081
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $12.08
95. Detroit
2024 average monthly rent: $1,282
2024 average yearly rent: $15,382
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $12.33
94. Milwaukee
2024 average monthly rent: $1,283
2024 average yearly rent: $15,399
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $12.34
93. Memphis, Tennessee
2024 average monthly rent: $1,285
2024 average yearly rent: $15,423
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $12.36
92. Lincoln, Nebraska
2024 average monthly rent: $1,292
2024 average yearly rent: $15,500
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $12.42
91. Baton Rouge, Louisiana
2024 average monthly rent: $1,320
2024 average yearly rent: $15,837
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $12.69
90. St. Louis
2024 average monthly rent: $1,330
2024 average yearly rent: $15,965
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $12.79
89. Corpus Christi, Texas
2024 average monthly rent: $1,332
2024 average yearly rent: $15,981
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $12.80
88. Omaha, Nebraska
2024 average monthly rent: $1,341
2024 average yearly rent: $16,086
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $12.89
87. Buffalo, New York
2024 average monthly rent: $1,344
2024 average yearly rent: $16,126
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $12.92
86. Lexington, Kentucky
2024 average monthly rent: $1,356
2024 average yearly rent: $16,271
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $13.04
85. Lubbock, Texas
2024 average monthly rent: $1,367
2024 average yearly rent: $16,407
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $13.15
84. Kansas City, Missouri
2024 average monthly rent: $1,372
2024 average yearly rent: $16,461
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $13.19
83. Cleveland
2024 average monthly rent: $1,378
2024 average yearly rent: $16,533
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $13.25
82. Louisville, Kentucky
2024 average monthly rent: $1,378
2024 average yearly rent: $16,538
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $13.25
81. Cincinnati
2024 average monthly rent: $1,412
2024 average yearly rent: $16,941
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $13.57
80. Indianapolis
2024 average monthly rent: $1,418
2024 average yearly rent: $17,016
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $13.63
79. San Antonio, Texas
2024 average monthly rent: $1,424
2024 average yearly rent: $17,087
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $13.69
78. Columbus, Ohio
2024 average monthly rent: $1,429
2024 average yearly rent: $17,147
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $13.74
77. Columbia, South Carolina
2024 average monthly rent: $1,436
2024 average yearly rent: $17,236
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $13.81
76. Rochester, New York
2024 average monthly rent: $1,439
2024 average yearly rent: $17,266
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $13.83
75. Greensboro, North Carolina
2024 average monthly rent: $1,449
2024 average yearly rent: $17,393
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $13.94
74. Spokane, Washington
2024 average monthly rent: $1,467
2024 average yearly rent: $17,603
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $14.10
73. St. Paul, Minnesota
2024 average monthly rent: $1,473
2024 average yearly rent: $17,674
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $14.16
72. Pittsburgh
2024 average monthly rent: $1,489
2024 average yearly rent: $17,868
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $14.32
71. Winston-Salem, North Carolina
2024 average monthly rent: $1,501
2024 average yearly rent: $18,014
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $14.43
70. Tallahassee, Florida
2024 average monthly rent: $1,508
2024 average yearly rent: $18,092
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $14.50
69. Tucson, Arizona
2024 average monthly rent: $1,516
2024 average yearly rent: $18,192
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $14.58
68. Albuquerque, New Mexico
2024 average monthly rent: $1,523
2024 average yearly rent: $18,272
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $14.64
67. El Paso, Texas
2024 average monthly rent: $1,523
2024 average yearly rent: $18,272
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $14.64
66. Richmond, Virginia
2024 average monthly rent: $1,563
2024 average yearly rent: $18,756
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $15.03
65. Arlington, Texas
2024 average monthly rent: $1,599
2024 average yearly rent: $19,183
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $15.37
64. Houston
2024 average monthly rent: $1,607
2024 average yearly rent: $19,282
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $15.45
63. Jacksonville, Florida
2024 average monthly rent: $1,620
2024 average yearly rent: $19,443
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $15.58
62. Minneapolis
2024 average monthly rent: $1,630
2024 average yearly rent: $19,555
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $15.67
61. Raleigh, North Carolina
2024 average monthly rent: $1,669
2024 average yearly rent: $20,029
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $16.05
60. Mesa, Arizona
2024 average monthly rent: $1,675
2024 average yearly rent: $20,097
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $16.10
59. Baltimore
2024 average monthly rent: $1,682
2024 average yearly rent: $20,183
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $16.17
58. Fort Worth, Texas
2024 average monthly rent: $1,702
2024 average yearly rent: $20,429
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $16.37
57. Phoenix
2024 average monthly rent: $1,713
2024 average yearly rent: $20,554
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $16.47
56. New Orleans
2024 average monthly rent: $1,717
2024 average yearly rent: $20,601
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $16.51
55. Dallas
2024 average monthly rent: $1,727
2024 average yearly rent: $20,725
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $16.61
54. Austin, Texas
2024 average monthly rent: $1,739
2024 average yearly rent: $20,869
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $16.72
53. Marietta, Georgia
2024 average monthly rent: $1,740
2024 average yearly rent: $20,878
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $16.73
52. Knoxville, Tennessee
2024 average monthly rent: $1,740
2024 average yearly rent: $20,884
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $16.73
51. Portland, Oregon
2024 average monthly rent: $1,741
2024 average yearly rent: $20,891
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $16.74
50. Las Vegas
2024 average monthly rent: $1,745
2024 average yearly rent: $20,943
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $16.78
49. Durham, North Carolina
2024 average monthly rent: $1,747
2024 average yearly rent: $20,963
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $16.80
48. Boise, Idaho
2024 average monthly rent: $1,748
2024 average yearly rent: $20,975
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $16.81
47. Charlotte, North Carolina
2024 average monthly rent: $1,769
2024 average yearly rent: $21,224
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $17.01
46. Vancouver, Washington
2024 average monthly rent: $1,775
2024 average yearly rent: $21,295
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $17.06
45. Philadelphia
2024 average monthly rent: $1,775
2024 average yearly rent: $21,298
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $17.07
44. Spring, Texas
2024 average monthly rent: $1,777
2024 average yearly rent: $21,329
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $17.09
43. Plano, Texas
2024 average monthly rent: $1,782
2024 average yearly rent: $21,386
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $17.14
42. Fresno, California
2024 average monthly rent: $1,785
2024 average yearly rent: $21,423
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $17.17
41. Colorado Springs, Colorado
2024 average monthly rent: $1,819
2024 average yearly rent: $21,823
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $17.49
40. Henderson, Nevada
2024 average monthly rent: $1,853
2024 average yearly rent: $22,234
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $17.82
39. Modesto, California
2024 average monthly rent: $1,878
2024 average yearly rent: $22,531
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $18.05
38. Nashville, Tennessee
2024 average monthly rent: $1,878
2024 average yearly rent: $22,533
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $18.06
37. Virginia Beach, Virginia
2024 average monthly rent: $1,883
2024 average yearly rent: $22,592
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $18.10
36. Katy, Texas
2024 average monthly rent: $1,910
2024 average yearly rent: $22,919
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $18.36
35. Reno, Nevada
2024 average monthly rent: $1,911
2024 average yearly rent: $22,932
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $18.38
34. Bakersfield, California
2024 average monthly rent: $1,913
2024 average yearly rent: $22,953
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $18.39
33. Atlanta
2024 average monthly rent: $1,938
2024 average yearly rent: $23,257
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $18.64
32. Aurora, Colorado
2024 average monthly rent: $1,940
2024 average yearly rent: $23,275
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $18.65
31. Orlando, Florida
2024 average monthly rent: $1,981
2024 average yearly rent: $23,768
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $19.05
30. Chandler, Arizona
2024 average monthly rent: $1,983
2024 average yearly rent: $23,798
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $19.07
29. Denver
2024 average monthly rent: $1,986
2024 average yearly rent: $23,829
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $19.09
28. Silver Spring, Maryland
2024 average monthly rent: $2,001
2024 average yearly rent: $24,013
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $19.24
27. Stockton, California
2024 average monthly rent: $2,061
2024 average yearly rent: $24,735
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $19.82
26. St. Petersburg, Florida
2024 average monthly rent: $2,072
2024 average yearly rent: $24,858
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $19.92
25. Lawrenceville, Georgia
2024 average monthly rent: $2,086
2024 average yearly rent: $25,032
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $20.06
24. Newark, New Jersey
2024 average monthly rent: $2,087
2024 average yearly rent: $25,043
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $20.07
23. Sacramento, California
2024 average monthly rent: $2,096
2024 average yearly rent: $25,151
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $20.15
22. Chicago
2024 average monthly rent: $2,133
2024 average yearly rent: $25,592
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $20.51
21. Gilbert, Arizona
2024 average monthly rent: $2,158
2024 average yearly rent: $25,895
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $20.75
20. Seattle
2024 average monthly rent: $2,169
2024 average yearly rent: $26,030
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $20.86
19. Tampa, Florida
2024 average monthly rent: $2,189
2024 average yearly rent: $26,268
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $21.05
18. Long Beach, California
2024 average monthly rent: $2,235
2024 average yearly rent: $26,816
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $21.49
17. Riverside, California
2024 average monthly rent: $2,374
2024 average yearly rent: $28,485
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $22.82
16. Honolulu
2024 average monthly rent: $2,396
2024 average yearly rent: $28,757
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $23.04
15. Washington, D.C.
2024 average monthly rent: $2,439
2024 average yearly rent: $29,269
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $23.45
14. Oakland, California
2024 average monthly rent: $2,494
2024 average yearly rent: $29,924
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $23.98
13. Anaheim, California
2024 average monthly rent: $2,691
2024 average yearly rent: $32,293
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $25.88
12. Los Angeles
2024 average monthly rent: $2,785
2024 average yearly rent: $33,419
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $26.78
11. Santa Ana, California
2024 average monthly rent: $2,822
2024 average yearly rent: $33,867
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $27.14
10. Naples, Florida
2024 average monthly rent: $2,955
2024 average yearly rent: $35,455
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $28.41
9. San Diego
2024 average monthly rent: $2,982
2024 average yearly rent: $35,790
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $28.68
8. Chula Vista, California
2024 average monthly rent: $2,992
2024 average yearly rent: $35,905
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $28.77
7. Jersey City, New Jersey
2024 average monthly rent: $3,047
2024 average yearly rent: $36,560
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $29.29
6. Miami
2024 average monthly rent: $3,118
2024 average yearly rent: $37,420
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $29.98
5. San Jose, California
2024 average monthly rent: $3,123
2024 average yearly rent: $37,477
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $30.03
4. Boston
2024 average monthly rent: $3,207
2024 average yearly rent: $38,480
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $30.83
3. Irvine, California
2024 average monthly rent: $3,222
2024 average yearly rent: $38,661
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $30.98
2. San Francisco
2024 average monthly rent: $3,237
2024 average yearly rent: $38,848
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $31.13
1. New York
2024 average monthly rent: $3,523
2024 average yearly rent: $42,279
Hourly wage needed to afford rent for two: $33.88
Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates looked at the largest 100 cities in the U.S. and sourced the average 2024 rent for each from Zillow’s April 2024 data. GOBankingRates then determined the hourly wage needed to afford rent for two people, assuming that spending on housing would not exceed 30%. All data is up to date as of May 23, 2024.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: What Is the Hourly Rate Needed To Afford Rent for 2 Across 100 Cities in the US?
