The Cheapest Neighborhoods in the 50 Biggest US Cities

Life in a big city is fast becoming downright impossible for anyone who’s not very well off. The cost of housing alone can make the prospects of living in one of America’s most populous urban centers a pipe dream. The average rent on a one-bedroom apartment in New York City right now comes to $2,333 — meaning someone looking to live alone and spend less than a third of their income on rent would need to make nearly $90,000 a year. And of course, they’ve got it easy compared to residents of San Francisco, where the average rent on a one-bedroom is a mind-boggling $3,612.

However, while a city’s average rent gives a clear overview, it’s not necessarily the reality for every resident. While some might choose to pay more for higher-end places in fancier districts, there’s also typically going to be places where housing prices are below average. Meaning that, should you find the right neighborhood, you might be able to carve out a corner of the city where your housing costs align with your income in a realistic manner. Perhaps, even a desirable locale where the cost of a house is attainable.

That’s the motivation behind a GOBankingRates study highlighting the neighborhoods in American metropolises that offer the most budget-friendly options for housing. Taking 50 of the largest cities in the country and ranking them by population, the study identified three neighborhoods in each city where the cost of buying and renting is lowest. To determine these costs, GOBankingRates used Zillow’s rent index and home value index — both of which use weighted results from listings and sales data to give a more accurate reflection of the expected costs in a specific housing market. These areas might not be a magic bullet that allows you to buy a spacious home in one of America’s priciest cities, but they might remedy a difficult budget or offer a realistic cure for that long commute.

So, take a look and see where in America you can buy and rent housing for less.

Last updated: May 3, 2021

Fountain at Aileen B. Ryan Oval in Parkchester, Bronx

Table of Contents

1. New York

Parkchester
- Average home value: $171,912.33
- Average monthly rent: $1,776.79
Woodlawn
- Average home value: $273,617.67
- Average monthly rent: $1,844.08
Williamsbridge
- Average home value: $314,275.00
- Average monthly rent: $1,810.36

Read: What Homes Will Be Worth in Your State by the End of 2021

Los Angeles, California, USA - August 16, 2016: Aerial view of port cranes, containers and cargo facilities in Wilmington and Terminal Island. — Los Angeles, California, USA – August 16, 2016: Aerial view of port cranes, containers and cargo facilities in Wilmington and Terminal Island.

2. Los Angeles

Southeast Los Angeles
- Average home value: $417,180.33
- Average monthly rent: $2,376.83
Central City
- Average home value: $442,035.67
- Average monthly rent: $2,372.72
Wilmington
- Average home value: $476,672.67
- Average monthly rent: $2,338.90

See: 50 Best Places To Buy a Home Under $250K

Shops and Launderette on 83rd Street in Chatham, a Chicago community on the Far Southeast Side.

3. Chicago

South Chicago
- Average home value: $108,866.00
- Average monthly rent: $1,174.28
Burnside
- Average home value: $121,429.67
- Average monthly rent: $1,248.72
Chatham
- Average home value: $139,944.67
- Average monthly rent: $1,243.40

Houston, Texas, USA downtown city skyline and park at dawn.

4. Houston

See: The Cost To Own a 3-Bedroom Home in Every State

Cityscape skyline view of office buildings and apartment condominiums in downtown Phoenix Arizona USA.

5. Phoenix

Estrella
- Average home value: $222,509.00
- Average monthly rent: $1,286.23
South Mountain
- Average home value: $209,671.00
- Average monthly rent: $1,337.52
Alhambra
- Average home value: $203,803.00
- Average monthly rent: $1,348.78

Wissinoming Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

6. Philadelphia

Olney
- Average home value: $120,606.67
- Average monthly rent: $1,106.87
Wissinoming
- Average home value: $126,697.00
- Average monthly rent: $1,122.61
Summerdale
- Average home value: $120,918.33
- Average monthly rent: $1,165.94

7. San Antonio

Avenida Guadalupe
- Average home value: $87,869.33
- Average monthly rent: $933.96
Quintana Community
- Average home value: $98,565.67
- Average monthly rent: $940.73
Prospect Hill
- Average home value: $91,096.33
- Average monthly rent: $1,021.83

8. San Diego

Colina del Sol
- Average home value: $274,151.33
- Average monthly rent: $1,791.60
Grantville
- Average home value: $335,718.67
- Average monthly rent: $2,031.20
Corridor
- Average home value: $419,155.33
- Average monthly rent: $1,946.80

May 1, 2015 Dallas, TX USA: People are relaxing and picnicking in free music in the park event in Klyde Warren Park, uptown Dallas, TX.

9. Dallas

Southeast Dallas
- Average home value: $140,639.67
- Average monthly rent: $1,203.66
South Dallas
- Average home value: $144,813.33
- Average monthly rent: $1,206.42
Wolf Creek
- Average home value: $175,468.00
- Average monthly rent: $1,219.65

A high angle view of a row of Victorian style houses in San Jose, California.

10. San Jose, California

Fairgrounds
- Average home value: $753,476.67
- Average monthly rent: $2,959.95
Alum Rock-East Foothills
- Average home value: $775,561.33
- Average monthly rent: $2,976.06
East San Jose
- Average home value: $742,687.00
- Average monthly rent: $3,020.42

Austin Texas USA sunrise skyline cityscape over Town Lake or Lady Bird Lake with amazing reflection.

11. Austin, Texas

Franklin Park
- Average home value: $226,321.67
- Average monthly rent: $1,501.63
McKinney
- Average home value: $238,674.33
- Average monthly rent: $1,582.56
Southeast
- Average home value:
  $252,274.33
- Average monthly rent: $1,564.38

12. Jacksonville, Florida

Sweetwater
- Average home value: $144,786.67
- Average monthly rent: $1,092.91
Oak Hill
- Average home value: $147,966.00
- Average monthly rent: $1,082.49
Baymeadows
- Average home value: $132,286.67
- Average monthly rent: $1,287.83

Panoramic photo of the skyline of Fort Worth with apartments and office buildings reflecting in the Clear Fork Trinity River at Trinity Park, in downtown Fort Worth,Texas, USA.

13. Fort Worth, Texas

Bomber Heights
- Average home value: $137,008.00
- Average monthly rent: $1,014.55
South Hills
- Average home value: $156,941.33
- Average monthly rent: $1,321.83
Handley
- Average home value: $159,764.00
- Average monthly rent: $1,364.96

Find Out: Best Places To Live on a $50,000 Salary in Every State

This is a photograph of the Columbus, Ohio skyline taken from near Bicentennial Park on the winter solstice, 2015.

14. Columbus, Ohio

Leawood
- Average home value: $118,180.00
- Average monthly rent: $1,025.25
Beechwood
- Average home value: $117,959.33
- Average monthly rent: $1,068.57
Holly Hill
- Average home value: $123,240.33
- Average monthly rent: $921.76

Find Out: 8 Insider Tips to Get Rich in Real Estate

San Francisco Outer Sunset District from Above.

15. San Francisco

Ingleside Heights
- Average home value: $999,816.00
- Average monthly rent: $3,294.98
Visitacion Valley
- Average home value: $942,445.33
- Average monthly rent: $3,781.00
Bayview
- Average home value: $963,365.67
- Average monthly rent: $3,729.28

Drone Aerial of Downtown Charlotte, North Carolina, NC, USA Skyline.

16. Charlotte, North Carolina

Hidden Valley
- Average home value: $142,526.00
- Average monthly rent: $1,116.67
Westerly Hills
- Average home value: $139,452.33
- Average monthly rent: $1,253.63
College Downs
- Average home value: $146,588.00
- Average monthly rent: $1,221.46

Downtown of Indianapolis by Indiana Central Canal.

17. Indianapolis

Near Southeast
- Average home value: $70,236.67
- Average monthly rent: $747.45
Devington
- Average home value: $79,111.33
- Average monthly rent: $792.86
Garden City
- Average home value: $86,969.33
- Average monthly rent: $815.19

Row of colorful townhouses and Olympic Mountain range from Seattle WA.

18. Seattle

South Park
- Average home value: $451,096.00
- Average monthly rent: $1,672.30
South Delridge
- Average home value: $474,639.00
- Average monthly rent: $1,859.66
Rainier View
- Average home value: $446,556.00
- Average monthly rent: $2,114.27

The snow covered Longs Peak and the Rocky Mountains stand behind Downtown Denver skyscrapers, hotels, office and apartment buildings with homes and condos in the foreground.

19. Denver

11216, 11301, Horizontal, States, Washington DC, america, capital

20. Washington

Congress Heights
- Average home value: $342,830.00
- Avera
  ge monthly rent: $1,754.62
Deanwood
- Average home value: $355,729.00
- Average monthly rent: $1,807.80
Buena Vista
- Average home value: $359,371.67
- Average monthly rent: $1,908.54

Allston, MA - 1/26/17: A row of newly constructed residences in a neighborhood of Boston. — Allston, MA – 1/26/17: A row of newly constructed residences in a neighborhood of Boston.

21. Boston

Brighton
- Average home value: $531,927.33
- Average monthly rent: $2,705.14
Allston
- Average home value: $596,565.00
- Average monthly rent: $2,735.43
West End
- Average home value: $585,661.33
- Average monthly rent: $2,908.46

22. El Paso, Texas

Pasadena
- Average home value: $92,163.67
- Average monthly rent: $829.36
Ysleta Mission Valley
- Average home value: $94,309.67
- Average monthly rent: $871.46
Save the Valley 21
- Average home value: $97,424.33
- Average monthly rent: $871.03

23. Portland, Oregon

Powellhurst Gilbert
- Average home value: $315,255.00
- Average monthly rent: $1,590.57
Hayden Island
- Average home value: $282,370.67
- Average monthly rent: $1,847.19
Mill Park
- Average home value: $317,264.00
- Average monthly rent: $1,585.46

Log, on Poplar Tree Lake, serves as resting place for a flock of Canadian Geese in Meeman Shelby Forest State Park outside of Memphis, Tennessee.

24. Memphis, Tennessee

Bricktown Canal in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

25. Oklahoma City

26. Las Vegas

Sunrise Manor
- Average home value: $230,782.33
- Average monthly rent: $1,183.07
Charleston Heights
- Average home value: $232,157.67
- Average monthly rent: $1,249.53
Whitney
- Average home value: $235,932.00
- Average monthly rent: $1,241.85

27. Louisville, Kentucky

Taylor Berry
- Average home value: $65,465.00
- Average monthly rent: $787.25
Parkland
- Average home value: $36,596.33
- Average monthly rent: $833.31
Wyandotte
- Average home value: $69,900.00
- Average monthly rent: $817.54

Baltimore, Maryland, USA cityscape overlooking little italy and neighborhoods.

28. Baltimore

Idlewood
- Average home value: $137,172.00
- Average monthly rent: $1,197.22
Perring Loch
- Average home value: $142,810.00
- Average monthly rent: $1,206.66
Woodring
- Average home value: $169,597.00
- Average monthly rent: $1,272.56

Downtown skyline with Buildings in Milwaukee at twilight, in Wisconsin USA.

29. Milwaukee

Silver Spring
- Average home value: $85,245.33
- Average monthly rent: $841.97
Uptown
- Average home value: $98,853.00
- Average monthly rent: $800.32
Capitol Heights
- Average home value: $109,150.00
- Average monthly rent: $859.51

Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA downtown cityscape at twilight.

30. Albuquerque, New Mexico

Trumbull Village
- Average home value: $121,995.67
- Average monthly rent: $771.80
La Mesa
- Average home value: $141,455.67
- Average monthly rent: $835.92
Alamosa
- Average home value: $130,502.33
- Average monthly rent: $1,028.29

31. Tucson, Arizona

Julia Keen
- Average home value: $146,052.67
- Average monthly rent: $997.12
Myers
- Average home value: $148,288.00
- Average monthly rent: $1,016.11
Keeling
- Average home value: $153,531.00
- Average monthly rent: $845.42

"Downtown Fresno, CaliforniaMore Fresno images". — “Downtown Fresno, CaliforniaMore Fresno images”.

32. Fresno, California

Central
- Average home value: $148,683.33
- Average monthly rent: $981.57
Fresno High Roeding
- Average home value: $198,805.67
- Average monthly rent: $1,168.46
Roosevelt
- Average home value: $205,392.00
- Average monthly rent: $1,149.20

Mesa, Arizona, USA - March 5, 2019: Daytime view of the Mesa Arts Center and Center/Main St station in the heart of the downtown district. — Mesa, Arizona, USA – March 5, 2019: Daytime view of the Mesa Arts Center and Center/Main St station in the heart of the downtown district.

33. Mesa, Arizona

Mesa Grande
- Average home value: $172,562.67
- Average monthly rent: $1,375.19
Encanto
- Average home value: $222,973.67
- Average monthly rent: $1,345.24
Reed Park
- Average home value: $227,936.33
- Average monthly rent: $1,342.02

34. Sacramento, California

East Del Paso Heights
- Average home value: $231,941.33
- Average monthly rent: $1,427.61
South Hagginwood
- Average home value: $235,871.67
- Average monthly rent: $1,531.66
Del Paso Heights
- Average home value: $252,353.67
- Average monthly rent: $1,564.72

Condos in Atlanta suburbs just next to Highway GA 400.

35. Atlanta

Princeton Lakes
- Average home value: $228,343.00
- Average monthly rent: $1,346.56
Downtown
- Average home value: $228,871.67
- Average monthly rent: $1,730.77
Lindbergh
- Average home value: $264,867.00
- Average monthly rent: $1,745.96

36. Kansas City, Missouri

Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA downtown city skyline at dusk.

37. Colorado Springs, Colorado

Photo of a street, at a residential district.

38. Miami

Flagami
- Average home value: $304,038.67
- Average monthly rent: $1,750.21
Alameda – West Flagler
- Average home value: $343,318.33
- Average monthly rent: $1,756.92
Shenandoah
- Average home value: $472,340.67
- Average monthly rent: $1,897.90

Downtown Living: Most Affordable Cities in the US

Downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, USA Skyline Aerial.

39. Raleigh, North Carolina

South Raleigh
- Average home value: $183,149.67
- Average monthly rent: $1,210.94
Southeast Raleigh
- Average home value: $189,576.67
- Average monthly rent: $1,261.70
East Raleigh
- Average home value: $255,731.33
- Average monthly rent: $1,162.45

LONG BEACH, CA: July 15, 2017: Urban garden Certified Wildlife Habitat in East Villages Arts District. — LONG BEACH, CA: July 15, 2017:
Urban garden Certified Wildlife Habitat in East Villages Arts District.

40. Long Beach, California

East Village
- Average home value: $335,772.67
- Average monthly rent: $2,032.62
Hellman
- Average home value: $402,442.67
- Average monthly rent: $1,996.92
Willmore City
- Average home value: $404,225.67
- Average monthly rent: $2,049.22

Nice Apartments in Virginia Beach near town center.

41. Virginia Beach, Virginia

Oceana
- Average home value: $209,940.33
- Average monthly rent: $1,318.68
Green Run
- Average home value: $207,796.00
- Average monthly rent: $1,383.65
Princess Anne Plaza
- Average home value: $223,169.33
- Average monthly rent: $1,388.52

Oakland, CA; Adams Point and Lake Merritt Lakeshore with amazing view.

42. Oakland, California

North Stonehurst
- Average home value: $473,472.67
- Average monthly rent: $2,554.97
Webster
- Average home value: $462,408.00
- Average monthly rent: $2,634.27
Adams Point
- Average home value: $609,247.33
- Average monthly rent: $2,976.95

43. Minneapolis

Webber-Camden
- Average home value: $182,663.33
- Average monthly rent: $1,323.02
McKinley
- Average home value: $174,346.33
- Average monthly rent: $1,448.56
Whittier
- Average home value: $196,790.67
- Average monthly rent: $1,358.91

"Tulsa downtown skyline from a park with trees, grass, rocks, and a stream in the foreground. — “Tulsa downtown skyline from a park with trees, grass, rocks, and a stream in the foreground.

44. Tulsa, Oklahoma

Hoover
- Average home value: $126,425.67
- Average monthly rent: $924.13
Lynn Lane
- Average home value: $225,407.00
- Average monthly rent: $942.66
Brookside
- Average home value: $209,966.33
- Average monthly rent: $994.32

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 28: The Ballpark in Arlington, home of the Texas Rangers, on September 28, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. — ARLINGTON, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 28: The Ballpark in Arlington, home of the Texas Rangers, on September 28, 2010 in Arlington, Texas.

45. Arlington, Texas

Central
- Average home value: $179,734.00
- Average monthly rent: $1,217.61
East
- Average home value: $173,661.67
- Average monthly rent: $1,259.42
West
- Average home value: $225,838.67
- Average monthly rent: $1,455.02

People on-board the Zoo Express water-taxi passes the University of Tampa, Florida.

46. Tampa, Florida

Terrace Park
- Average home value: $181,194.33
- Average monthly rent: $1,249.69
Lowry Park Central
- Average home value: $187,923.33
- Average monthly rent: $1,273.09
Fairoaks
- Average home value: $199,468.33
- Average monthly rent: $1,306.93

Wichita, Kansas, USA downtown skyline at dusk.

47. Wichita, Kansas

McCormick
- Average home value: $56,611.33
- Average monthly rent: $702.56
South Central
- Average home value: $57,431.00
- Average monthly rent: $664.73
Stanley-Aley
- Average home value: $60,893.67
- Average monthly rent: $709.47

Cars come and go at sunrise before rush hour in Clevland Ohio on Lake Erie.

48. Cleveland

North Collinwood
- Average home value: $72,165.67
- Average monthly rent: $769.39
Old Brooklyn
- Average home value: $92,358.00
- Average monthly rent: $799.38
Jefferson
- Average home value: $84,397.67
- Average monthly rent: $839.92

Northeast Bakersfield, California, exhibits fall colors even in the semitropic region.

49. Bakersfield, California

Southgate
- Average hom
  e value: $142,580.67
- Average monthly rent: $1,032.97
Oleander Sunset
- Average home value: $159,776.00
- Average monthly rent: $1,064.49
Benton Park
- Average home value: $172,978.00
- Average monthly rent: $1,209.71

50. Aurora, Colorado

Centretech
- Average home value: $179,993.67
- Average monthly rent: $1,432.76
City Center North
- Average home value: $229,571.00
- Average monthly rent: $1,357.68
Highline Villages
- Average home value: $230,156.67
- Average monthly rent: $1,521.10

More From GOBankingRates

Methodology: GOBankingRates took the 54 biggest cities in the U.S. by population (according to the 2018 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau) and found the three cheapest neighborhoods in each in terms of home values and rent rates. First, GOBankingRates compiled the 10 neighborhoods in each city with (1) the lowest median estimated home values (according to Zillow’s housing data). Then, GOBankingRates compiled (2) the estimated market rent rate (also from Zillow) in each city’s 10 selected neighborhoods. GOBankingRates then scored each neighborhood against the other selected neighborhoods in the respective state on each of these two factors, with lower home values and lower rent corresponding to lower scores. The three cheapest neighborhoods in each city were identified as the three neighborhoods with the lowest composite score. In order to be included in our final ranking, neighborhoods had to have data available for both scored factors. All data was compiled on and is up to date as of Jan. 3, 2020.

Note: The following four cities were omitted from our final ranking due to a significant lack of data on their housing markets, which made them impossible to rank: Detroit; New Orleans; Nashville, Tennessee; and Omaha, Nebraska. We considered 20 neighborhoods (rather than 10) to create our final ranking in the following four cities that were lacking some data to ensure that we had both home value and rent data for at least three neighborhoods: Baltimore; Tucson, Arizona; Mesa, Arizona; and Oakland, California.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: The Cheapest Neighborhoods in the 50 Biggest US Cities

Tags: Biggest, cheapest, Cities, Neighborhoods