One-bedroom apartments are often thought of as a person's first truly “adult" apartment. With their own designated bedroom, residents have more privacy and space, and as such, one-bedrooms generally cost more than studios. After a slight switcheroo in 2019, one-bedrooms are once again the second least-expensive housing option. However, it's not by a lot. While studios cost an average of $1,605 in 2020, one-bedrooms averaged $1,617. With a $12 difference, why not upgrade?
As more renters left major cities for up-and-coming towns last year, one-bedroom prices varied by region. While the South saw increases, the Northeast decreased and the Midwest stayed mainly constant. However, it was the West that saw the biggest change in one-bedroom rents going down from 2019. If you're looking for a change, these are the cities to watch for the most affordable one-bedroom apartments.
If you're looking for the most affordable apartments of the single-bedroom variety, go west. As jobs moved online last year, renters headed out west for cheaper rents and access to wilderness and major metropolitan areas. These growing communities are called “Zoom towns." However, there are a few notable exceptions in the South and Midwest.
To determine which cities have the most affordable apartments, Apartment Guide reviewed data from cities with populations of more than 100,000. We then ranked the cities by which ones had the highest percentage of units cheaper than the citywide average. Through this method, we determined the top 10 cities with the most affordable one-bedroom apartments.
Situated close to the capital city of Frankfort, Lexington is legendary in the equine world. Horse-lovers flock to the “Horse Capital of the World" for its racetracks and thoroughbred farms. Surrounded by the pastoral beauty of the bluegrass region, that old country charm quickly grabs the heart here. But urbanites will also enjoy Lexington's rich history and robust distilling scene.
As Kentucky's second-biggest city after Louisville, with a population of 323,152, Lexington is highly regarded for its quality of life. And the fact that 65 percent of its one-bedrooms are lower than the citywide average doesn't hurt either.
If you want to live in Colorado, having access to the Rocky Mountains is a must. But if Denver is out of your price range, this rapidly-growing city on its eastern flank is the next best thing. Ranked as Colorado's third-largest city, Aurora has everything from outdoorsy fun at parks and reservoirs to arts and culture like the famous Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
But from a renter's standpoint, it's also a great deal. Out of 70 available units, nearly 66 percent of them are cheaper than the citywide average. And with the Mile High City and the mountains right next door, what's not to love?
Coastal living isn't out of reach, as the city of Corpus Christi on the Gulf of Mexico shows. An attractively-priced one-bedroom can easily be found here, as 66.88 percent of available units are lower than the citywide average.
Popular for its water sports and fun-loving vibes, here you'll live a life of sun, surf and entertainment. And it's not only humans that think Corpus Christi is prime real estate. Hundreds of native and migratory birds are found along the Padre Island National Seashore, as well as Kemp's Ridley sea turtles.
Melt-in-your-mouth barbecue. Breathtaking landscapes. Comfort food that fills up your belly and your soul. Friendly folks and that unparalleled Southern hospitality. Yep, North Carolina is hard to beat. But while the Triangle Area and Asheville have gotten most of the love in the past, now it's Greensboro's turn.
Steeped in history, the city is rife with museums and educational institutions. There's also family-oriented fun like the Wet'n Wild Emerald Pointe Water Park. And nature lovers will adore the lush city parks and abundant nature just outside of town. And below-citywide-average units make up 67.39 percent of all available one-bedrooms, for another big plus.
Glendale is on the rise. This sun-baked city is drawing em' in with competitive rents, shopping, dining and a thriving sports scene. And boy, does Glendale loves its sports. Home to the University of Phoenix Stadium, Camelback Ranch and Gila River Arena, football, hockey and baseball fans all have something to enjoy.
And you can't beat the heat here, but you sure can beat the rental rates, with 67.50 percent of its available one-bedrooms are under the citywide average. Compared to nearby Phoenix and Scottsdale, this makes Glendale a much more affordable choice.
The birthplace of Buddy Holly, Lubbock is one of Texas' best cities for music. Throughout downtown, especially in the Depot District, you'll find tons of large and small venues full of all kinds of music. But it's also the home of Texas Tech University, so the arts and sciences live hand-in-hand here.
On top of all that, nearly 69 percent of Lubbock's one-bedrooms are below the citywide average.
We know what you're thinking. Reasonably-priced one-bedrooms? In Miami? Yes, indeed. Out of 404 units, 71 percent are under the average price for rent in this southeastern Florida metropolis. Dreams do come true!
And Miami's many amenities and attractions need hardly any introduction. From endless beaches to trendy shopping and dining areas, Miami has it made in the actually-quite-sunny shade.
Arlington sure knows how to play. From thrills at amusement parks to taking in a game at AT&T Stadium, this city is all about good times. And it doesn't always have to be high-energy. You can choose your own brand of fun, liking shopping downtown or strolling through city parks.
And you'll have even more time and money for activities thanks to its affordable housing. Of its 149 one-bedrooms, 72 percent come in under the average, making this popular Texan city quite a bargain for renters.
From outdoor recreation areas to a bustling downtown area, Boise is the perfect blend of city-and-nature living. Idaho's capital city has seen major growth in recent years, drawing young people with its affordable housing, outdoorsy scene and tech industry. It's even been called the best place for millennials to live in the US.
It's easy to see why affordability plays a big role once you look at how many affordable one-bedrooms are available. Of the available apartments, 73 percent clock in below the citywide average, so don't settle for a studio when extra square footage is so abundant.
At a whopping 86 percent, Long Beach takes the cake for having the most one-bedrooms under the citywide rent average. Who knew Southern California could be so affordable? So, whether you want beach or city living, you'll find something to fit your personality and budget.
Obviously, access to the ocean is a big reason to choose Long Beach. But there's much more to do besides that. You can peruse its many museums, dine on the multicultural fare or explore the canals of the Naples neighborhood.
None of the cities on the Top 10 list caught your fancy? There are plenty more options for happening communities with affordable units.
| Rank | City | Population | Units Below Average Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Long Beach, CA | 462,628 | 86.33% |
| 2 | Boise, ID | 228,959 | 73.53% |
| 3 | Arlington, TX | 398,854 | 72.48% |
| 4 | Miami, FL | 467,963 | 71.78% |
| 5 | Lubbock, TX | 258,862 | 68.85% |
| 6 | Glendale, AZ | 252,381 | 67.50% |
| 7 | Greensboro, NC | 296,710 | 67.39% |
| 8 | Corpus Christi, TX | 326,586 | 66.88% |
| 9 | Aurora, CO | 379,289 | 65.71% |
| 10 | Lexington, KY | 323,152 | 65.28% |
| 11 | Tucson, AZ | 548,073 | 64.97% |
| 12 | Toledo, OH | 272,779 | 64.29% |
| 13 | Albuquerque, NM | 560,513 | 63.64% |
| 14 | St. Louis, MO | 300,576 | 63.16% |
| 15 | Washington, DC | 705,749 | 62.94% |
| 16 | El Paso, TX | 681,728 | 62.86% |
| 17 | Tampa, FL | 399,700 | 62.73% |
| 18 | Scottsdale, AZ | 258,069 | 62.39% |
| 19 | Mesa, AZ | 518,012 | 62.35% |
| 20 | Plano, TX | 287,677 | 62.24% |
| 21 | Tacoma, WA | 217,827 | 61.70% |
| 22 | Kansas City, MO | 495,327 | 61.27% |
| 23 | Charlotte, NC | 885,708 | 60.14% |
| 24 | Houston, TX | 2,320,268 | 60.05% |
| 25 | Winston-Salem, NC | 247,945 | 60.00% |
On the flip side, just because they're small doesn't mean one-bedrooms always come cheap. Sometimes, those petite units can cost a pretty penny, like in these 10 cities.
| Rank | City | Population | Units Below Average Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norfolk, VA | 242,742 | 26.98% |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | 513,624 | 30.15% |
| 3 | Hialeah, FL | 233,339 | 33.33% |
| 4 | Baltimore, MD | 593,490 | 35.90% |
| 5 | New Orleans, LA | 390,144 | 37.25% |
| 6 | Garland, TX | 239,928 | 38.51% |
| 7 | St. Petersburg, FL | 265,351 | 38.64% |
| 8 | Memphis, TN | 651,073 | 39.88% |
| 9 | Boston, MA | 692,600 | 40.48% |
| 10 | Oklahoma City, OK | 655,057 | 44.57% |
To come up with our list, Apartment Guide looked at the average price of a one-bedroom apartment in cities with a population of more than 100,000. Then, we determined the number of available units that are priced below the citywide average for that unit size. We determined the cities with the highest percentage of one-bedrooms that are cheaper than the average to be the places with the most affordable one-bedroom apartments.
Rent prices are based on a rolling weighted average from Apartment Guide and Rent.com's multifamily rental property inventory of one-bedroom apartments. We pulled our data in December 2020, and it goes back for one year. Our team uses a weighted average formula that more accurately represents price availability for each individual unit type and reduces the influence of seasonality on rent prices in specific markets.
We excluded cities with insufficient inventory from this report.
The rent information included in this article is used for illustrative purposes only. The data contained herein do not constitute financial advice or a pricing guarantee for any apartment.
Zoe Baillargeon is an award-winning writer and journalist based in Portland, Oregon, where she covers a variety of beats including travel, food and drink, lifestyle and culture for outlets like Apartment Guide, Rent.com, AFAR.com, Fodor's, The Manual, Matador Network and more. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, hiking, reading and spoiling her cat.