What should you expect to pay in rent if you’re looking for low income housing rentals, also known as average low income housing rent? The answer depends on the type of apartment you want and where you live, but some general rules apply throughout the country.
Keep reading to find out more about average low-income housing rent prices so that you can budget accordingly.
Renting a 3-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles
On average, renting a 3-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles costs $2,069, while renting a 2-bedroom apartment costs $1,522.
The price of 1 bedroom and two-bedroom apartments is higher at an average of $1,937 and $1,795. So even though you can find low-income one-bedroom apartments for more minors than low-income two bedrooms, it might be beneficial to look for affordable two bedrooms which could be more spacious.
Renting a 2-bedroom apartment in New York City
For example, in New York City, $1,435 is an affordable price for a one-bedroom apartment. The average low-income housing rent cost in New York City is $2,200 for a two-bedroom and $1,600 for a one-bedroom, as of July 2014.
You can find out your city’s average low-income housing rent by using our rental affordability calculator. This tool allows you to search by zip code or state for a range of incomes to determine how much it costs to live in different areas. If you want to live comfortably, you should spend no more than 30% of your monthly take-home pay on rent.
Renting a 1-bedroom apartment in Boston
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines low-income for a family of four as an annual income of $48,500 or less.
There’s no strict definition for national affordable housing rentals for individuals, but payments that fall under 50% of area median income (AMI) are generally considered cheap.
In Boston, low-income households can pay around $1,300 per month for a one-bedroom apartment. However, other options are available in Boston if you have even lower incomes.
Renting a studio apartment in Chicago
Low-income units in Chicago can be hard to come by. According to The Coalition for Affordable Housing, only 2,360 low-income units were available in 2016.
There are also a lot of places that offer affordable housing rentals and have a lower cost of living than major cities like New York or San Francisco. These include Portland, OR; Fayetteville, AR; Durham, NC; Omaha, NE; and Birmingham, AL.
Renting an efficiency (studio) apartment in Seattle
Seattle’s studios (combined kitchen/living room with no separate bedroom) have an average monthly rental rate of $916. The price ranges from a low of $429 to a high of $2,100 per month. Of course, you can find cheaper or more expensive apartments depending on your location and preferences.
For example, in West Seattle, you can find efficiencies as low as $500 per month and as high as $1,700. But these rates are not unique to Seattle—studio apartments in other cities throughout Washington State range from a low of $539 in Yakima to a high of $1,836 in Bellingham.
Best price per square foot by city
The low-income one-bedroom near me rent depends on several factors. Location matters, as do amenities and rental rates in other neighborhoods or cities.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development offers data on affordable rental options across America; it breaks down costs by region (state), local metro area, and county.
For example, in San Francisco County, California, HUD reports that low-income one-bedroom apartments cost $1,066 per month. In Jackson County, Missouri—near Kansas City—low-income one-bedroom apartments cost $506 per month.
If you’re interested in finding out what low-income one-bedroom apartments near you cost each month, check out HUD’s interactive map.
