The Most Expensive Cities to Rent In

Fewer apartments and skyrocketing rents make for a difficult climate if you want to rent your home in certain cities. How much you pay each month largely depends on where you live, and there are several cities that are notoriously expensive for renters. According to statistics from 2006, the average rent in the U.S. is $896, with an average occupancy rate of around 96%. In this post, we’ll tell you the most expensive places to hang your hat and give you pointers on finding the best rental in a tight market.

Ten Most Expensive Cities for Renter

City	Avg. Rent	Annual % Change	Occupancy
New York	$2,469	NA	97.1%
San Francisco	$1,947	8.8%	97.4%
Los Angeles	$1,586	6.5%	97.5%
San Jose, CA	$1,487	11.6%	98.2%
Orange County, CA	$1,387	6%	96.8%
Boston	$1,332	2.1%	96.7%
Oakland	$1,248	5.8%	96.8%
San Diego	$1,213	3.1%	97.1%
Washington, D.C.	$1,205	4.5%	97.4%
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$1,134	9.7%	97.5%

Finding a Great Apartment in a Tough Market

It is possible to find a good apartment in a tight market if you know what to do. Here are five tips to help you in your apartment-hunting endeavors.

Start early. The best rentals are usually up for lease while the current tenants are still living there, typically 30-40 days before move-in. Don’t wait until two weeks before your moving day to start looking or you’ll end up with the dregs no one else wanted.
Do your homework. Look online and in the classifieds to get an idea of what rents are in the area in which you’re looking and for the apartments that have the amenities that you want. This will help you gauge if rents are reasonable or not.
Make financial preparations. A few months before moving, check your credit report and make sure it’s up to par. Also begin saving for your security deposit.
Expand your search. Look at various apartment listings online, check out bulletin boards at colleges, coffee shops, newsletters, etc.
Remember to stay flexible. You should create a list of must-have amenities, such as 24-hour maintenance or central air conditioning. Aside from these features and the commuting distance, stay flexible. Remember you only have to stay for one year.