Do you think your rent is too much? Well, you might think again after seeing rental prices in the most expensive rental markets in the United States. Compiled by the Center for Housing Policy, an affiliate of the National Housing Conference, the report ranks 210 metropolitan areas in the US by the fair market rent of a two bedroom apartment.
Topping the list was San Francisco, California, where the monthly fair market rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $1,760. In fact, three of the four highest-ranked areas were in California—Santa Cruz and Santa Ana ranked third and fourth, respectively.
Second place went to Honolulu, the Hawaiian capital, where a two-bedroom apartment goes for around $1,704. New York City’s place on the list was perhaps most surprising, as it ranked a low thirteenth place at $1,359.
The top ten most expensive rental markets in the US are listed below.
| Rank | City | Fair Market Rent for 2br |
| 1 | San Francisco, Calif. | $1,760 |
| 2 | Honolulu, Hawaii | $1,704 |
| 3 | Santa Cruz, Calif. | $1,656 |
| 4 | Santa Ana, Calif. | $1,594 |
| 5 | Suffolk-Nassau, N.Y. | $1,592 |
| 6 | Bethesda, Md. & Washington, D.C. | $1,494 |
| 8 | Oxnard, Calif. | $1,479 |
| 9 | San Jose, Calif. | $1,438 |
| 10 | Los Angeles, Calif. | $1,420 |
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Why the hell’s it so expensive to live in San Fransisco?
This has to be old, I paid $1600 for a cheap 1 bdr in hollywood. It sucked too.
forgot to mention that it was in Santa Barbara.
Ok this made me feel way worse. I am forced to live on Santa Barbara and am looking for a 2 bd apt for less than 2000. I guess I live in the most expensive city.
Why is new york not on this list?