i'm not a renter anymore, but last year:

Oakland, 2 br, low 1700 high 2200

When I lived in Kansas City, MO I had a decent 1 bedroom in a small 1920s-30s building for $375/month, with some utilities included. In a KC suburb on the Kansas side, I had a 1 bedroom (that I hated) in a massive complex for $500/month, no bills included, covered parking was extra.
In Manhattan, KS, you'd think rent might be cheaper, but you can't find a liveable 1 bedroom for less than $800 or $900. (And these are usually not true 1-bds, but newly-constructed studios that are billed as "lofts.") You can find cheaper studios/1-bds in town, sure, but what you get for $525 is likely to be a partially finished attic/basement space with holes in the floor/ceiling and a curtain for a bathroom door.

Fall River, MA
Currently: 1200 sq.feet 2 bedroom, double parlor living room for $600 a month
Highest Willing: $800
Lowest Willing (and still spacious enough): $500

Not a renter anymore either; but I rent out a 2 bdrm condo (850 sq) for $875/month.

Most I would pay would be $1200/full house or $900/2 bedroom apartment. Lowest I've ever seen is $775 for a 2 bd, but it was in literally, the ghetto.

ETA, I'm in Saskatoon, SK.

Washington D.C., 2 br, low 1700 high 2000
(these are becoming progressively more difficult to find, though I've lived in several different versions over the past three years)

I don't live in the US so it's not necessarely a good comparison, but a 2 bedroom without utilities in Montreal (QC, Canada): low: 600$, high: 1000$. My last rent in Montreal was 630$ for a 2 bedroom in a nice neighbourhood.

The highest I've gone was 2400 for 3 bedroom in brooklyn, and I doubt I'd go any higher, the lowest I'd expect to go for a 1 br would prob be 1100, which doesn't seem like much, but I don't mind living in non-trendy neighborhoods.

St Louis, MO
I currently have the entire 2nd story of a brick storefront. Around 1300 sq ft, 2 bedrooms (3 technically. The third has a closet, but is an office at best), front and back entrance, off street parking, with water, sewer and trash included. I pay $750.

High: $1000
Low:$700

New York City, 1 bedroom (600-900 sq ft), low $2000, high $2800

Alexandria, Virginia
700 sq ft, 1 bedroom = $1,400.
Historic neighborhood, very safe, great short commute to Washington DC, and my cat had access to the gardens. Worth every penny.

Seattle is expensive, you can't find a one bedroom, 450 sq ft lower than $800, highest I'd pay is $1000.

Newport Beach, CA 3 bedrooom. low as possible as long as it was safe and not falling down. high end, prob $2500.

NYC (Chelsea), Studio (approximately 300 square feet), 1400-1900

Houston, TX

I decided to buy after looking for a decent 1 br/1 bath in either a converted house or duplex for under $1000. I figured it made sense to buy for a higher mortgage than throw it away in rent.

Before that, I had a 2 br/2 bath for $1400, which was on the high side, but the location couldn't be beat.

my Chicago 1br low would be $750 high would be $1100 For 750 you get a small no frills 1 br in a good area, for $1100 you get a decent size space and upgrades.

For a 2 BR I'd say low $1000 high $1800, the units over that, are simply paying for a location surrounded by tourists.

Also in Seattle. Current apartment is 1000+ sq ft 2-br, with its own garage, in the Ballard neighborhood, $1470. Last apartment was a 750 sq ft 1-br, shared garage, also in Ballard, $850.

I'd say for a 2-br, the lowest I would go in this neighborhood would be about $1000; highest would be around what we're paying now. (Though it's possible to pay a lot more.)

New Orleans, LA

It's actually more expensive to rent (insurance went waaaay up after Katrina, and the rents reflect that). You can get so many incentives to buy that it usually makes more sense to buy.... if you can get a mortgage these days, that is.

1 bedroom: Not below $750, or you're looking at a really gross place. Over $1200, and you're overpaying.
2 bedroom: Not below $900, or it's gross. Probably $1500 tops.

Before Katrina, these numbers would have been more like $500 - $700 and $650 - $850.

$850 for a 1908's 1 bedroom/1 bathroom apartment in North Miami. Rent prices are through the roof there. :/

Alexandria, VA (outside DC), 2 bedroom, pet friendly, $1000 - $2400

Houston, TX

Low $550 for a 1/1 efficiency in a great, fun part of town (Heights)

High $1,495,3/2 with garage in newly built home/complex. This will usually include granite/hardwood, etc.

I pay $1,000 for a downstairs unit in a standalone home duplex. 2 bedroom, 1 bath, 12 ft ceilings, hardwood floors, semi-decent part of town (2 blocks from Washington Ave and Memorial).

Not terrible.

I'm in Chicago, and I've lived in three different apartments in three different "neighborhoods" downtown. I paid $1050 for a studio in Steeterville four years ago, $2400 for a 2 bedroom in River North (we scored a deal on the place, regular 2 bedrooms in our building rented for > $2800), and now I live in a 1 bedroom on the border of the Loop and South Loop for $1550. I know I'm paying for a more expensive place but I love the buildings I've lived in and the people I live around.

I live in Central London in Zone 2. My flat is a one bed, one bath. I pay £1088 which converts to $1711.

£1000 is about as cheap as you can find in central london, as soon as you get out of the center you can find much cheaper but I say...if you're going to live in London, Live IN London!!

Chicago, IL
Currently 600 sqft studio $725. The highest I would go is $950. The lowest? As low as possible without having to live in a Hellhole! :p

Very apt post - we're signing a lease tonight! :)

Montreal, Quebec. 2 bedroom apartment. Low 800, high 1200, with the following amenities:
- Public-transit-accessible (for my partner)
- Parking space (for me)
- Washer/dryer outlets in the apartment
We're currently paying 950/month, heating included (which counts for a LOT in Canada... our current apt doesn't have heating included, and the bill works out to 120$/month).

Large 1 BR in Baltimore City for $400.

Left for safer pastures in rural PA. $800 for a three bedroom house(attic and basement for storage)on almost an acre. We do the yard, pay for garbage removal, and provide the appliances but water is free! :) And we're not afraid to walk outside after dark. A big plus!

I'm sure there are some ridiculously priced high end pads skewing these numbers higher. I think looking at the median would give a better idea than looking at the average. $2574 seems a bit high for a 2 bedroom in LA, I know my friend just moved into a 2000sqft loft downtown for $2000/mo

@talktoearthworms

I agree. Same with San Francisco. A couple years ago, my friend a fully remodeled 3 br, 2 ba in the Mission for less than $3000.

Portland, OR
Currently paying: $1030 for a 550 sq. ft, 1 bedroom, with in unit washer/dryer, and a dishwasher. This also includes utilities (not phone/internet/cable) and a $25 "pet rent". This is a newer unit with a walk score of 83. Max that we would pay would be $1100 with all utilities included. Minimum we could find in an walkable area that we like would be $900 with all utilities included... this probably wouldn't include in unit washer/dryer.

Eugene, Oregon I pay $910 for a three bedroom with a bonus room (four bedroom for us).
I can/would pay low: $850 high: $1200 for a full house 3+ bedrooms.
I once saw a five bedroom for $850...steal.
I am a transplant from rural Kansas and literally paid $450 for a three bedroom with yard and two car garage. Wish I could get that great pricing here!!!

@TARAINSEVENVALLEYS no wonder you were afraid to walk outside, $400 for a 1BR? I can only imagine where that was...

Baltimore City, MD
currently in a 2BR/2BA, ~1600sq ft $1595
lowest I would pay is $1400, highest $1800*

*side note - this is given what I know now, however last year we were overpaying for a 1BD/1BA, 800sq ft $1850...4 blocks from where we are now!

jackson, MS

paid $600 for 1 bedroom in horrible area and over $900 for 1 bedroom in suburb city.
3 bedroom houses in decent areas are all $1,200-1,400

prices are insane here (to me). especially for MS being such a poor state, and me being such a poor person!! haha

I live in Royal Oak, Michigan and pay $805 for a 900 square foot 2 bedroom. Includes utilities, but a coin washer/dryer down the hall. No pet fee, but you can only have cats.

Obviously it's not a huge city, but I think it's a great place for young singles or couples. Anyway, the most I would pay here for my unit is probably $1000. Paying any more and I could get a 3 bedroom.

Central NJ: $1600 for a 2 bedroom condo with access to amenities. Unfortunately, those are hard to come by these days.

I just bought a house so I don't rent anymore but last year I was paying $850 for a ground level one bedroom (806 sq ft) apartment wtih an attached garage in north Dallas. It also had 'hardwood' floors which was a plus since I have a cat and a dog. Market rate was $1050 for that unit but I got it on a special. I wouldn't pay more than $850 though if utilities were not included. If they were included, I would probably go around $1000 at the most.

Sacramento use to be a cheap place to rent but with all the forclosures rents are increasing every month.

2 bedroom (Low $800)
(High $1200)
(Some exspensive lofts near the Capital $2000+)

Colorado

Low: $495 for studio near historic downtown Grand Junction,CO.
High: $850 for studio in central Boulder, CO.

Forgot to add: the lowest I would pay would probably be around $700. Any lower than that and the communities/surrounding areas tended to be less than...nice I've noticed. I'd rather pay a bit more to get a better quality of neighborhood.

I live in southwest Missouri where the hubs and I rent.

We pay $775 for a cute 2BR/2BA duplex with approx 1600sq ft in a good neighborhood.

For apartments in this area you can get a nice 1BR on the small side (under 1000sq ft) in a good area for $550-650 or a 2BR for $700-800. That'll usually include some utilities, along with the property's amenities like pool, fitness center, security, use of a community club room if there is one.

We're looking now for a single-family home and our budget is $700-800 which again will usually mean a good sized house in a good neighborhood. I can't even imagine paying four figures for a place I'm just renting!

Last year I was paying $775 plus utilities for a studio without parking or laundry facilities in Newport Beach, CA now in Angelholm, Sweden I am paying around $750 for a one bedroom that is around 600 sq. feet with a balcony, free laundry, storage room, and a secure building.

Not much to compare to, but I live in Newmarket, Ontario, and I rent a one bedroom with walk out patio from the bedroom and huge backyard for $850 all inclusive. $850 low - $1000 high. Anything higher then $900, I would much rather own a home.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

I currently pay $1080 for a 1 bedroom attic apartment that includes all utilities. My unit has a washer, dryer, dishwasher, hardwood floors, spacious balcony and access to a shared side yard. Given the area I live in, the price is a pretty good deal though I feel I'm paying more for the area (convenience, popularity, access to public transit, etc.) than the space itself. Highest I would pay would be $1200.

I know people who pay around the same, if not more, for a small bachelor apartment but since rentals are such a competitive market downtown right now, people are willing (and often have no choice but) to overpay.

Thank goodness for rent control! I pay 750 now for a 1 bedroom 800sq apt in the nice part of the Bronx. My apartment prior was 1100 for a 1 bedroom in a 450sq apt. So basically I cut my by 3/4 (since I split the rent) in half and increased my square footage by half by moving in with my bf!

Lowest: NYC $500 (1997-99)

Highest: Brooklyn $1403 (current), both studios with EIK

I forgot to say the hi/ow! For southwest Missouri low I'd pay $650 high $800.

I pay $735 for a well-kept but no frills 1-bedroom in a safe neighborhood in Chicago. I could go up to $1100 if my student loan payments magically disappeared. I wouldn't pay any lower because I don't want a studio, a roommate, or to live in a worse neighborhood.

I live in Saskatoon and live near the ghetto and am paying 1250 for a 2br main floor suite. Util/cable included however. Its becoming more expensive to live where we do with all the broken car windows in the last couple months. Not to mention getting scary with a a murder one block over.

Desperately want to buy a house, but housing prices in the city right now are a bit crazy.

I'm paying $620 for a large 1 bedroom in Milwaukee. Free heat, leaded glass, hardwood floors, full size dining room and Spanish plaster. I can have a cat, includes parking and my place is GORGEOUS. But I don't live near the college, hence the cheap price. My BF and I are looking to move into a two bedroom, hoping to pay under $1000.

I live in eastern WA. Currently renting an 800sq house for $800. Soon moving to a 1200sq house with a yard for gardening for $750.
Lowest: $650 (for a small two bedroom house or larger two bedroom apt)
Highest: $950 (for a three bedroom house)

Whoa, these prices are blowing my mind! If you're interested in international prices, I'm an expat living in Berlin, Germany and prices here are crazy cheap, though they've definitely been going up the past few years.

Berlin, Germany, 2 bedroom, low $650 (500€) high $1200 (900€) - but that's VERY high.

We pay just a bit more than the low and that in a great neighborhood.

Currently in a two bedroom/two floor apartment probably 800-900 square feet in Beacon hill, Boston for $1950... Highest id go is $2500 I'd say... I don't think you can get a nice 2 bed for under 2200... We lucked out somehow!

NYC. I would go as low as 1800 and as high as 2500. I prefer to live in Queens though.

Mine:
Alexandria, VA (Del Ray)
1 bedroom. 11th story. Views of the Potomac, the Anacostia and the Capitol. $1470

Best Friend 1/2 mile away:
Alexandria, VA (Park Fairfax)
1 bedroom. 1st floor. Historic Registry neighborhood. $1,100

I have a bland 650ish sqft 1 bedroom from the early 1960s with a huge walk in closet and a fairly large bedroom in Santa Barbara, California. I feel its fairly expensive for what it is at 1500 a month. There is no pool, nothing really in terms of amenities, but it does have a public laundry lol.

toronto, canada

lowest would be 1200, highest would be 1700... hard to save for a down payment paying any more than that!

p.s. AT - would not mind if you paid attention to canada as you did the states.. we speak the same language (mostly) and share much of the same climate (in terms of weather, economical and social).

Northwest Idaho:

Low: $495 for a 2 bedroom in a historic downtown building. High would be about $650 or so, but those would still be apartments, newer, but crappier than ours.
When I lived in San Diego my 1 Bd was $700 and that was cheap cheap cheap!! it was a granny flat a friend owned and they gave me a deal on it. Anything else I couldn't have afforded :/

Boston (Allston), MA.

I'm in a 250 square foot studio in a trendy, but student, neighborhood for $1100 a month. The apt itself is actually quite lovely, with a large separate entry and kitchen. That's the cheapest I think one can find in a safe neighborhood being very close to public transportation. I'd go up to $1500 for a 1BR, but it would still have to be in that neighborhood for that price considering the public transit and safety factor.

Mt Vernon, Baltimore

Large 2 bedroom, and 2 bathrooms, 1 in each bedroom- $1200 total.

Current : I pay $1750 in Downtown Pasadena (CA) for a 1 bedroom apartment...its extremely nice, at least I think so and right in the heart of the restaurants and shopping. Similar places go for over $2,200 which I would not pay.
High : $2,000 since that is what I would be ok with paying for my current place if I had to.
Low : $1,500 because anything below that is probably a dump in this area.

I currently live in NYC (Washington Heights)
I live in a 1 bedroom and pay $1450/month. Includes water.
No laundry facilities. Electric and Gas are not included.

I wouldn't pay less than $1100 or more than $1500.

North Vancouver, BC (separate city across the harbour from downtown Vancouver):

1 bedroom: low $850 high $1250

i pay $763 for a 610 sqft walkup in a central location. thank god for rental increase protection. i just wish my super would paint it since i've been there for almost 8 years now.

Los Feliz area of Los Angeles City
$1000 and up for a proper one bedroom
$1500 and up for a 2 bedroom 1 or 2 bath

the up part has more to do with how big, historical (older units are more popular among the hipspers), and/or private the unit and if it comes with parking space.

Silverlake and Echo Park the starting rents are higher than Los Feliz's (less rental untis than in Los Feliz; demand outweights supply).

The further west (towards the ocean), the rent is not necessarily higher. West Los Angeles, one can find a 1+1 for about $1,100 to start. Venice, Santa Monica, anywhere near the beach is a whole other story.

outside of LA proper and west side LA, the rents are not cheaper but about the same; $1000 and up for 1+1 and $1600 and up for a 2+1/2+2 in a relatively safe and middle class neighborhood.

Orange County rents are higher due to the newness of many units. it is not unusualy to find a 1+1 asking $2,000 or more and 2+2 asking $2,500 or more in the middle class or upscale part of OC.

Portland, OR
$795 for a two bedroom, hardwood floors, washer and dryer in complex, and includes water, garbage. Roughly 895 sq ft. Might pay up to $900 for a REALLY nice place.

Fresno, CA -

We are moving from our 640sq foot loft that was $725 a month to a 1300sq foot 2 bed/1.5 bath for $1410 ($1350 rent plus $60 for additional parking spot).

I never thought I would spend more than $1000 but this has a 1 car garage, it is gated, has a balcony, solar power, extra thick insulated walls, hardwood floors, heating and cooling units in each living space, stainless appliances and room for a washer and dryer.

Charleston, SC
Downtown as high as $2,000 for 1000sq ft
outside city (James Island, Mt.P etc) 1500 sq feet house plus yard for $1200-$2000
North of Charleston those rents are cut in half (if not lower)

WOW. I can't imagine ever paying less than 1000 dollars for ANYTHING. I live in Boston, own, but rented in somerville a 2 BR in a wonderful neighborhood for 1500 (no utilities) and I thought that was cheap. I can't even wrap my head around some of the rents listed here. I would be RICH if I could rent for under $1000! I'm so jealous.

Living on Capitol Hill in DC for 800/mo in a 3BR row house. My friend is sharing a 1BR apt in Dupont for 1400/mo. All depends on location!

Also, for the Hill I'm getting a major deal!

I agree these rents are nuts! I live in downtown boston in a 1 bedroom (albeit- a large one) for $2400/month- that doesn't even include the parking or heat. So yea...I'd say the average listed in the article was probably spot on. When we were looking our "high" was 2500 without parking and low was 1900- although I'd love to pay less, below that you either give up space or location and i'm not willing to do either!
I've actually seen 350 sqft apartments with awful lofted beds on the market for 1800.

I've rented in Madison, WI and Denver, CO:

Madison: 2 bedroom, 400-600

Denver: 4 bedroom apartment, 700-800 or one bedroom 700-1,000

HUGE difference between the two cities!!

Toronto, Ontario: I currently pay $930 for a pretty big two-bedroom apartment, including utilities, but it's in a not-so-nice neighbourhood in terms of poverty and some crime.

Lowest: $900
Highest (in my current situation): $1300

i pay $1295 for a 1 bedroom bungalow in Mar Vista (West LA) - incl parking spot, new hardwood floors, new granite countertops, new appliances, my own address (no unit #), front door & back door (no patio).

Washington, DC
I pay just under $1300/month for a newly renovated one-bedroom in Petworth. It's not as "established" a neighborhood as, say, Dupont Circle or Adams Morgan, but I live a 3-minute walk from the Metro and lots of new shops and restaurants are starting to go in nearby. The highest I'd go would be $1450 or so if utilities were included, and the lowest would be $1000 for a studio or basement apartment.

Two bedroom in a sort of nice neighborhood in LA, one parking space: $1300-1500 (I lived with two roommates in Culver City at the higher rate and with one roommate at the lower rate in the NoHo Arts District)

One bedroom with one parking space in the Burbank/Glendale/Los Feliz/Atwater Village area: 975-1200

Rent varies wildly all over Los Angeles so it's hard to characterize the city in one rent range bracket, but those are my experiences. I love the city, but I'm considering leaving because I don't make much in my job field and I'd really like to live in a really nice apartment and still have money left over to save/travel, which I can't do here.

I live in Lincoln NE and currently pay 675 for a 2 bedroom 1200 sqftish duplex with a full basement, Lanlord does lawn and snow removal. The highest I would pay is 1000 and that would have to be really nice and either downtown or more that 2 bedrooms and include a two car garage. Lowest is probably 550, lower than that and things start to get sketchy or have too many loud college students (probably both).

San Francisco:
$12,000/$8,000

Any less than that and the neighborhood is probably sketchy.

Miami/Fort Lauderdale
Low: $900
High: $1050

Right now I'm paying $1025 for a 1 bedroom/1 bath, 750 sq. ft. condo that's a 10-minute walk to the beach, supermarket, and shopping center. It's a bargain for an awesome location, clean/safe/small building, wonderful landlord, and peace of mind. I'm heading into my fourth year here, and I have no desire to move :-)

New York, 1br (true 1br, not an alcove studio, minimum 650sq ft), low $2600 high $3500

Arlington, Va
10th floor studio condo everything included 600 square feet for $1100. My studio is a lot bigger then some 1 bedroom apartments in this area. I love my place have a great view of Skyline close to everything not even 5 miles from DC. Highest I'd go would be around $1300 including all utilities, lowest I'd go would be $1000, anything lower then that your going to be in a bad area with roaches! I got lucky on my place because I am renting my condo from the owner.

I pay $1,735 for a studio just under 700 sq ft in the Streeterville neighborhood of Chicago. No utilities. That is normal for this neighborhood as I have a view of Navy Pier and the lake. It's actually under market rate because I was one of the original renters. New renters pay just under $2,000. Building is 98% occupied.

@zepper

My new neighbor (of 4 months) is paying $4,100/month for 900 sqft, 2 bd, 1 bath Victorian in San Francisco's Pacific Heights, two blocks from Pete's on Fillmore. I'd say in Pac Heights it's pretty average for the size and location.

$8,000 to 12,000 will get you a lot, but you don't have to spend that much to stay in a good neighborhood.

$1700-$2400 is pretty common for a 1 bedroom with a den or a small 2 bedroom in Washington DC. I wouldn't pay more than $1800 for a 1 bedroom with a den. It depends on square footage, but it's hard to find anything that isn't outrageous (relative to the cost of everything in the area, I mean).

Here in Madrid the average for 2 bedrooms would be 900€ (about 1.175 US$), which is usually a crappy 650 sqft with no windows in the bathroom :(

In a time of european crisis, that a lot.

Durham, NC low $800 high $1800

Prices can certainly be lower or higher, just depends on what you want and where.

@Norapie - Zone 2 isn't really 'central' although I certainly wouldn't want to pay the £2800 a month for a one bed to live in the midst of W1. http://www.londonpropertywatch.co.uk/average_rental_prices.html

I live in London as well, Zone 3. We pay £850 ($1300 USD) per month for a 2 bedroom. It's still easy enough to get around and I like having the extra bit of space, especially when we have visitors from overseas.

DC:
1 br $300 (a million years ago!)
1 br now $2300 beautiful loft

Eugene OR- We did pay $1100 for a house once- but it was a huge house and electricity was included. In general, for houses or duplexes, I would not pay more than $900 for 3bd 2ba. And it would have to be an awesome duplex or a so-so house for that. Before we moved into this house that we bought, we were living in a very cute tiny tiny house and were paying $750.
Pretty much if you want to go into Springfield, everything is $100 cheaper.

Boston MA
I'm in a 2 bedroom shared with a roommate and the total rent is $2,100. Honestly it's an amazing deal because the apartment is super nice. BUT I'm trying to move into a studio or 1 bedroom and the prices they charge for these AWFUL places are just absurd!! For examply $1300 for a teeny tiny, run down studio. I'm ready to move to across the ocean after reading a few of these comments.

In Phoenix, I'm paying the lowest I could reasonably find at $550, but I would go up to $1200 if I felt like moving. The place I'm in now is not that great, but it's cheap and it's in a good neighborhood. It's a 1+den.

I'm looking to move to SF within the next year, and I'm hoping for a 1+den or 2 for $2000 tops. I hope I don't have to pay more than that :(

I live in Grand Rapids, MI, and according to that site, the median is $705 and the average is $744.

I don't think there is much variation from that. Probably $650-ish on the low end to $900 on the high end.

I haven't rented in years, but my last apartment was 950 sqft with 2 bedrooms, a carport, a basement storage area, and a pool, was around $775 per month, so I'd say that's probably accurate.

Denver Metro Area- $695-850 1 bedroom/735 sq ft. In-unit washer and dryer, patio, fireplace, clubhouse with pool, gym, and office space.

Memphis TN- $550-$1,200 The lower end gets you midtown funky, cool and dark, within walking to bars and clubs. The higher end gets you a high end 1,500sq ft loft with two full baths on Main street, in the gallery district of South Main st., one block to Beale street.

West Austin just blocks from UT campus. We pay $1850 for a very nice, well maintained 2/1 900 sq ft bungalow with a 600 sq ft guesthouse studio apartment for our teenaged daughter. Within biking distance to anywhere in Central Austin!

Other 2 bedroom converted duplexes in the area run $1100-$1400.

Medford, MA - 4 milles from Boston

Currently I pay $875 for a dog-friendly studio with a seperate eat in kitchen. My prior place, also in Medford was $1650...also for a studio....and I'd never pay that much for a studio again even though it was lovely (Rivers Edge for the locals).

wow at some of the cheap and really expensive rents!!!

Los Angeles, CA neighborhoods of:

Weho, Hollywood (above Hollywood blvd), Los Feliz & SIlverlake- high of $1350 low of $1050 for a 1 bedroom would be my budget. and $1350 is pushing it into what I would consider mortgage territory.

Currently live in the Hollywood HIlls area and pay $1250 for a 1 bedroom/1100 sq ft w/ parking in a vintage building. Got lucky. and I have pets.

Kircat- I rented in Santa Barbara around 2005-2006. I paid about $900 a month for a 450 sq foot '1 bedroom' with two small windows and no extras. The cheapest room for rent I ever saw was someone who was willing to rent me a completely unfinished attic space with a pull down ladder (totally illegal?) for $500 a month. I eventually found a little 2 bedroom apartment behind a grocery store for $1,200.

I've lived in 2 different 1bedroom low 315 high 375 (these were my favorite apts) A 3 bedroom that I shared with my boyfriend and a roommate 600 Then we went to houses a 2 bedroom with a 1 car garage 475 and our current home, a huge old victorian under a lease to own contract at 700 (technically this is rent since if we choose not to buy we loose the money) This is for central Nebraska

I am also in Seattle, also right in the heart of Ballard 2 blocks off Cupcake Royale. It's a 2br, about 1,000 sq. ft. and change, with garage parking and a storage unit downstairs, $895/mo. It is a huge steal, which is good because this month I have to replace my roommate and I am absolutely dreading it, so hopefully the price will make it easier to get it all over with.

Wow, I envy people who pay such low rents! San Francisco's rent control makes vacant apartments absurdly expensive and lots of smaller landlords don't bother re-renting once they've had to deal with evicting a nightmare tenant. My landlord legally kicked 3 of us out last summer, but he had to pay each tenant $5,000 just to move out.
The rent controlled place was $2,000 for a 1,800 sq ft 4 bedroom top floor flat overlooking Duboce Park and my portion was $800. My new 2 bedroom is ~1,000 sq ft and costs $2,600 and that's supposedly a deal give the size and neighborhood. Half the size and three times as much money. At least I can afford it - even if it is a huge waste of money.

$2200, 2 bed, 2 bath- Honolulu, HI. It was actually a condo we rented out in one of the brand new high rise buildings in "town" with a beautiful ocean view. Pros: ocean view, proximity to beach (2 blocks), restaurants/bars, shops (Ward Warehouse, Ala Moana mall), 5 minute walk to my favorite spot "fresh cafe," and close enough to downtown if that's where you work, washer/dryer in unit, 2 parking spots included with the rent (most owners usually have one stall as some units you have to purchase a parking stall in addition to buying the unit), bbq area, jacuzzi, secured entrance, lanai/balcony space, pets allowed in bldg., a/c each in rooms & living room, granite counter tops, and stainless steel appliances- stove, dishwasher, fridge. Cons: facing the ocean= HOT! and Bright! We had white window shades to match the turquoise ocean blue water (reminded me of Greece) but the sun seeps right through. Space- it's on the smaller side (there are different layouts for different units), and the second room is best for an office/reading room, but can certainly work as a bedroom. No yard space :( (DIY work kinda hard on the balcony, but it fit a bistro table set, and my small garden of fresh herbs). :)

I found a 2 bed and 2 bath in Bucktown/Wicker Park, Chicago IL. Washer/dryer included.(small second bedroom, though)

$900.

I majorly lucked out. I won't leave until I buy a place. Seeing these numbers make me fee a lot better about the pricepoint. It felt high when I moved in.

Just got a 2 bedroom in a lovely area of St Paul for $1189. It's an older building so it's on the smaller side, but it's in a great location (Summit/Grand) and the renovations are superb. Prior to that had a studio in Minneapolis for $540 and a 1 bedroom for $620.

I live in Portland, OR and currently pay $785 for a 330 sq ft studio in a vintage building, with lots of charm. The most I could possibly pay in my current financial situation (low paying job) would probably be $800, so I'm right at it! The lowest rent I would expect to find for a cute apartment in a good/central neighborhood is around $650.

Oh and just for fun, the lowest rent I ever paid was $75/month for an unfinished attic/loft in a garage, in Olympia, WA in 2000. The highest I've paid was $950 for an ugly, tiny one bedroom apt in San Francisco in 2009.

San Jose, CA
Currently paying $1750/mo for a 2 br/1 ba duplex with a small yard and 1 car garage.
Low end for a 2 br: $1600
High: $1800

That said, I'm signing a leas for a 1 br/1 ba apartment in Los Gatos tomorrow for $1250/mo. It's difficult to find a decent 1 br in a nice area of Silicon Valley for less than $1200. Not so hard if you don't mind cockroaches. :)

San Francisco Bay Area
Lowest (what I'm paying now for a 295 sq ft West Berkeley studio without utilities, parking or laundry) = $850
Highest (for a studio in the northern part of SF city, same criterai) = $1400, which I'm finding few and far between
Guess I'm staying in Berkeley for another year :-)

Wow I really want to live in Berlin! I'm currently in Melbourne though and pay $950 for a small 1br, if you want a decent 2 br I think it would be around $1300+, depending in how close to the city you are. As a student however I'm pretty much paying the max I can afford while being close by to my uni!

Manhattan (1 BR) Lowest: 1450, Highest: 2500

When I was in Brooklyn, I rented a 3 BR for 2000

I've lived in Chicago suburbs, Chicago, and now Seattle. We're moving to the east side of lake Washington after this summer, and we plan on saving a boat load of money this way.

Chicago suburbs - 1/2 bedroom - 500 to 950
Chicago - 1/2 bedroom - 500 - 1100
Seattle - studio/1 bedroom - 500 - 1100
Seattle suburbs - 1/2 bedroom - 850 - 1200

palo alto, ca 2 bedroom, low 2700 high 3300

I live in Vancouver (Canada). We rent a 590 sq. ft. 1 bedroom apartment for 1520(that's including our 90$/month underground parking spot).
It's right downtown, and our building has some great amenities. The biggest thing is that our building is dog-friendly. It is pretty hard to find dog-friendly rentals in Vancouver. Our maximum rent would be about 1600, and the minimum would be anything below that!

Austin, TX
2 Bedroom/2 bath
Low - $700
High - $1000

I pay $805 for a 2 bed/2 bath, 900 sq ft right now. I just moved from Seattle where I paid $850 for a 400 sq ft studio in Capitol Hill!

Cincinnati, OH (however, I'm in the 'burbs, outside the beltway) and prices are between $400-$900 a month for a 1 BR, depending on amenities (balcony/patio, laundry hookups, gated community, square footage). These prices are true even a bit closer to downtown, but downtown is in the $1+k range.

To clarify, my apartment is a 3rd floor apartment (so I'm paying a premium for that, getting the extra benefit of vaulted ceilings and a garden tub), 1BR (gated community, laundry hookups, balcony) and it is $825 for 820 sq ft.

Houston TX

I'm moving into a 2br/2.5 bath townhome and we'll be paying $1500. Its a pretty nice place with new appliances and hardwood floor, but it definitely has a few projects for us to work on once we move in. It's in Montrose though so it a great deal! Houston is way more expensive than I was originally expecting though, especially if you want to live in a safe, urban, hip area. Our budget was $1200-1800. In Montrose it seems 1br/1 bath for a really nice place goes from $1100-1600 and a 2br is normally anywhere between 1300-2000. It just depends on how nice of a place you want.

I live in Clerkenwell, central London (zone 1). Flat is 392 sq ft, one bed, one bath and a teeny tiny garden located downstairs and waaaaaaaaay at the back of the terrace. Because its a period building we benefit from high ceilings and big sash windows, but have absolutely no built in storage.We pay £1350 per month which is a recent increase, and is the top of our budget at the moment. Its so worth it though, nothing beats being able to walk to work.

I'm in Canberra, Australia, and I don't think there is any accommodation available at all below about $1000 a month, and that would be a 1-bedroom or studio with rats, cockroaches, or loud neighbours on the far outskirts of town. I wouldn't expect to find somewhere inhabitable under $1600, and the max I would pay is $2000 a month (which is what our place was heading towards with multiple rent increases when we finally bit the bullet and bought instead.

2 bedroom, 2 bath, 1007 sq. ft. in Houston, Texas, inside the Loop. My high would have been $1,200.

the most id pay in pittsburgh would be 700 for a 1br in northside flats, bloomfield, lawrenceville, regent square or friendship. probably cant touch squirrel hill, shadyside or southside flats for that. the least i would pay would be buy a house for $20k in a not-there-yet neighborhood...

I live in Chicago, 2br 1 bath about 100 sq feet and pay $1300. I also have a 100lb dog which really puts a restriction on where we can live but we found an awesome place; completely upgraded with granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances, hardwood floors, and no parking is no issue. We're paying less than we should, really. I'd pay as much as $2000 given the perfect location and apartment details. I looked at 32 apartments before we got this one.

No one has commented on Philly, but I'd say that $1500 is about right for some areas for a 2 bedroom (not including utilities). We used to pay $1700, but I had a big 2 floor 2 bedroom in a rowhouse. One bedrooms run from about 800 to 1200 in West or South Philly, a little more in Center City.

I'm now in DC and over $3000 is about accurate for a 2 bedroom, probably a 1 bedroom plus den, in higher priced areas like Dupont or Adams Morgan. Although I have a friend who's living in a 1 bed+den (it works as a 2 bedroom) in Logan Circle for $1900 and she's told me she's never letting her place go!

LA...Santa Monica.

$1725 for 800 square feet in a seen-better-days 1960s building. However, I walk to the beach and everything else in the ultimate car city.. That's the most I would pay and unfortunately, that is what I pay.

If I went east, I could have the same place for $1200. I'd also have rather a miserable commute.

Location, location, location.

$895 for a 2 bedroom in Baltimore (Bolton Hill to be exact). I wouldn't pay more than $1000 for a 2 bedroom.

DC (as such pricey) but this is what I'd consider a decent deal: 1 BR: $1300-1600; 2 BR: $1800-2400; 3 BR +: $2600-3300

Downtown San Diego, Gaslamp Quarter. Highest we were willing to pay was $2100 for 1100 sq. ft. loft. We've since downsized to smaller loft in the same building for $1895. This is more than we would typically pay for a space, however we get a housing allowance with the Military which helps. We decided during our short time in San Diego, we'd live right where we wanted to, in the middle of it all, close to my husband's work and really enjoy our time here. We haven't regretted it once. We love San Diego!

We've lived all over, here are the averages:

Honolulu (Military base) - $1900
Key West - $1600
Maryland (Silver Spring) - $1500
San Diego (Downtown) - $1900

I live in San Diego as well and pay $2200 for a 2 bedroom 1 bath Craftsman cottage in a Mission Hills - a great neighborhood in the middle of the city. When we were looking for our current place, most rents were running 1600-3000 for a 2 bedroom depending on the neighborhood.

We were looking at rentals on the North Shore for a while as my fiance had a job there and they were even more ridiculous than San Diego!

In New York (all boroughs), I wouldn't pay less than 900 and more than 1500 for a 1 bedroom. They're out there, it just takes a lot of patience.

Philadelphia, Rittenhouse Square (supposed to be one of the best neighborhoods, I guess). While seeking studios of ~400sqft, I saw one (maybe a little bigger) for $650. I missed out on that one. I'm currently renting one (just below 400sqft, probably?) for $925/month, which is probably at the high end. Hardwood floors, high high ceilings, have to pay heat/ac/hot water (all in the electricity bill, which previous tenant told me was $50 in january, so....) I think if a rental company were particularly ballsy they might list a studio of this size for $1100. Maybe. In any case, there don't seem to be very many sizable studios in this neighborhood (closer to 300sqft is more common). Or they are much bigger, and much much much more expensive.

Previously rented 1br in rittenhouse square, $775 for 430sqft, $750 for 360sqft, $795 for ~600sqft. All with hardwood floors (or some hardwood floor) but in meh condition.

Seattle. Rented Townhouse condo- $1000 in Queen Anne. One bedroom, hardwood floors, three balconies with views of Elliot Bay, dishwasher, washer/dryer, underground parking, storage room/bike parking. This is not out of the ordinary in this neighborhood. It pays to shop around and to have excellent references.

Oh, I just craigslisted "studio+rittenhouse"; the cheapest result is $600 for a 150sqft studio. >.> Compare that to $600 for a 550sqft studio in Graduate Hospital, which is a neighborhood that is about half a mile to a mile south. I think I was more or less correct in my previous comment, though, all the studios above $1100 seem to be larger than 400sqft, possibly furnished, and often in a swanky building (mine's in a brownstone with 5 other units). Although, half of the time those are carpeted.

I just moved to NYC from Los Angeles last weekend.

In L.A. the lowest I paid was $875 for a studio in Los Feliz
Highest was $1075 for a 1 bedroom in Beverly Hills / South Robertson

Now I live in a 1 bedroom in Hamilton Heights (West Harlem) and I pay $1175.

Every place I've lived in has had everything I wanted at the time. I guess I have pretty good luck finding good apartments.

Oh, re: my 600sqft 1br, when I viewed it, the rental company was under the impression that it was a studio. When I moved out a year later, they forgot that they'd learned it was a 1br and relisted it as a studio, but when they realized again that it was a 1br, they didn't increase the rent beyond what they were originally shooting for.... All my 1br could be considered quite cheap for rittenhouse. Even if they were pretty crappy. The Philadelphia estimate for a 2br does not strike me as hugely off or anything.

Tampa, FL - studio or 1 br/1 bath - low: $650/high: $900
I got really lucky with my place. It's a quirky 550 sq ft studio (huge closet, decent bathroom, hw floors) on top of a 3-car detached garage. The property was built in 1922 and it's two houses in from Bayshore Blvd. in Historic Hyde Park. Also, my landlords are the bomb. :)

Oh, and I pay $750.

I am looking to relocate in the not-too-distant future, and I have to say that a lot of prices listed here are not nearly as dystopian as I had been thinking they could be. This gives me so much hope!

Seattle - $650/mo for a small one bdrm on the southern edge of Capitol Hill.
Second floor, with a small deck, and even includes utilities. I've been living in this apt about seven years now, and I know it's a good deal. I'm loathe to ever let this go(not that I could afford to move within this neighborhood, rents are so high now).
My landlord is a decent person with three rental houses(all old, charming, quirky, divided into apts) on the hill, and he seldom raises rents - he'd rather keep good tenants than turn over units in a selfish drive to make profit. Lots of artists and creatives living here too. The landlord has updated a few, with dishwashers and such, but even those are rented below market rate, even though the rents are much higher than mine.

Oh, my rental price range is about what I pay now, although maybe I could afford up to $750/mo(if it included utilities). Otherwise, I'd have to look into a room-mate situation, as rents in Seattle(in the city proper) are quite expensive now.

I pay $1725 for a 2000 sq ft 2 bed 2 1/2 bath townhome/condo 3 stories with a bonus room including utilities in Camarillo, CA. Its 5 minutes from the beach and close enough but far enough from LA. Pets any size allowed :)

Anyone from Brazil on here? Can you tell me the average cost of a 2 bedroom (and average salary you would have to make to comfortably afford it) in Rio de Janeiro? Thinking about making a move, and want to know what I'm getting myself into. Thanks!

Was living in Honolulu, HI, now in kailua, HI

Shared 4 bedroom in Manoa (Honolulu by UH)- I paid $630 a month, the house was $2800 for everything

Own 2 bedroom 680 ft apartment in the Diamond Head area of Honolulu was $1500 a month, not including utilities. Great property, good ocean views, beach access.

Shared 3 bedroom house in Kailua- I pay $1300/month, but whole house is $2800. 1800 Sq ft, backs up to a lake with beautiful mountain views

The lowest I ever paid for rent was $550 in Albuquerque, and it wasn't the cheapest available but it had a yard, a community pool and jacuzzis, and all utilities included. The most expensive rent I've ever paid was in the South End of Boston. We paid $3200 for a 2 level, 2 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 deck apartment with washer/dryer in the house. Oh, and it had a working fireplace. It was way, way too expensive for us, but a wonderful experience for a year!

I'm looking right now in NYC in Inwood: 1-2 BR (700sq ft) Low: $1000 High: $1700

Currently have a 3BR/2 Bath where we've been for 8 years for $2150

Atlanta (heart of Buckhead)
"1200 sq. feet" (we measured, its actually 1000)
Loft "2 bedroom" 2 bath, huge wall of windows, reclaimed hardwood floors, slightly dated kitchen - very unique for Atlanta.
2010: $1050 ... 2011: $1150 ... 2012: $1375

That $225/mo. increase was the kicker. $1375 is a nice mortgage for Atlanta.
I'd hate to move - I wanted this place to be our last rental before we build a house. Currently looking to rent a house or condo for more space. The rental market is going crazy here. A friend of a friend just bought a condo in Midtown because it would be cheaper than renting.

We live in Wellington, New Zealand and we pay weekly here, not monthly. We have a 2br top floor apartment in a seven floor building in the entertainment district and pay $430pw (currently about $350USD), although we do live on top of a backpackers hostel so it's a little cheaper than some similar places.

This may seem low, but the reality is that the gap between the minimum wage and the experienced worker salary isn't that big, minimum wage is about to go to $13.50ph and is still rising, so it's hard to get a payrise because it's so expensive to employ unskilled people.

My husband is a butcher and I'm a retail manager, and percentage wise we don't get paid much more than that figure up there. Even so we're more than comfortable and don't need a flatmate to get by, so I should probably shut up and stop complaining :P

In Chicago we pay $800 for a 2 bedroom garden unit in a Northwest neighborhood. It includes heat and water which is a plus. The neighborhoods safe and we enjoy the space we have. No lower then $750 I would pay and nothing above $1,200 because at that point I would be ready to move on.

In Zurich we paid 1,200 CHF so around $1,300 for a one bedroom with a tiny galley kitchen. Quiet neighborhood and windows covered nicely by trees. But we lived closer to the airport then city center.

Currently paying $609 for a two bedroom, one bath in Greenwood, Indiana. For the things the husband and I own, we couldn't really downgrade too much.....but the most rent we'd pay is $650-700. Past that is just ridiculous around here.

Fort Myers, FL ~ (2006) 3 bdrm, 2-1/2 bath townhouse $1,750; (2007) 3 bdrm, 2 bath new condo $1,400; (2008) 3 bdrm, 2 bath coach home $1,250; (2009) 3 bdrm, 3 bath pool home $1,750; (2011) 3 brdm, 2 bath highrise condo $1,300.

Minneapolis, MN - downtown studio in very sketchy neighborhood $595, 5+ years ago. Now in suburban 1BR that was a steal 4 years ago & rent hasn't been raised on me since then (who knows why???) - $575. It's outrageously underpriced. Everyone's jaws drop when I tell them what I pay. (My own low rents aside, for those that think the prices here are incredibly low, I wonder what average salaries are in comparison? Most friends who move to the Midwest from the coasts comment on the large paycuts they took when coming here.)

Rochester, Mn - Highest $675 for a 2 bedroom 1 bath townhouse / Lowest $575 for a 1 Bedroom house with a full basement

Austin, Tx
cheapest I've paid $250 + bills in shared 3 bdrm house 78745
highest I've paid (where I live now) $850 + bills for 2 bdrm 2 bath, 3 closets, 950 sq ft, 10 min from downtown, laminate "wood" floors, fireplace, but no washer/dryer connections. And when we were looking around we even found cute 2-3bdrm houses for 850-900 a month. They just weren't in the more popular or affluent neighborhoods.

Perth, Western Australia. If you can even find a rental property here, expect to pay upwards of $1000 per week for a one bedroom apartment in the CBD, and upwards of $1350 per week for 2 bedrooms. The outer suburbs are better value, but transport is difficult. Expect to pay around $350-$650 per week for a 3 bedroom single story family home. But as I said, rental properties are scarcer than hen's teeth here. And if you have pets - forget it. I just did a search for pet-friendly rentals, and in the city and inner suburbs of Perth there were precisely TWO properties available - a 2 bed apartment for $1000 per week and a 3 bed townhouse for $1500 per week. $6000 per month just because you have a pet...

As for me, the most I would pay in rent is what we pay for our mortgage - $997 per week or $4320/month for a four bed, 2 bath, single story family home, about an hour from the CBD and a 90 minute commute from my husband's work. The least I would pay would be whatever I had to pay to get into a property subject to the financial limit of what we earn...and given the state of our rental market, I doubt we could ever afford to rent - since we have three cats and would never give them up.

The good news for us is that based on the above statistics, we could afford to rent in New York City and still have money to live on!

It blows my mind what people are willing to pay here in San Francisco compared to every other city besides NYC and maybe Chicago. It's pretty disgusting... we're all being taken advantage of. I can't wait to get the hell out of here - and we got a real "steal": 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom for $1,475 (to be fair I paid about the same for a tiny tiny fully furnished jr. 1 bedroom in Tokyo) because we're out in the Sunset. When we were looking to move closer to the city the highest we were willing to go was $1,800 for a jr. one bedroom or one bedroom which was damn near impossible to get because the competition was SO fierce. We wound up staying where we are which is a good decision.

I pay $650 for a 350 sqft "studio" (bedroom/living room, kitchen, bathroom) in a great neighborhood in Philadelphia. I wouldn't pay more than $850 for a studio here.

Have a 750sqft 1BR in Kingfield neighborhood, south of downtown Minneapolis that's $695. Wouldn't pay more than $800 or less than $500 if the place is in a decent neighborhood.

When I moved into my first place in San Francisco in 1994. I paid $200 for a 64 sqr ft room with a window under some stairs. Studios were $425 then. I moved into the largest room in the flat (120 sqr feet) for $400 shortly after that. I jumped around SF a lot after that. However I've been in my current place a jr. one bdrm (320 sqr ft) for eight years & I pay $825. One west facing window in my bedroom and no window in my living room. My kitchen is 5' 4' with a 2' by 2 1/2' wide space for me to stand. I've managed to cook dinner for 16 people though.

For a one bedroom in San Francisco now? I wouldn't pay less than 1000 and couldn't afford more than $1200 but I know I couldn't find anything for less than $1600 and actually livable for less than $2300. So sadly I've put up with what I've got.

Rents are out of control in SF.

Los Angeles, Mid City; nice duplex and house neighborhood but still a lousy school; $2800 for a three bedroom duplex of about 1500 sq feet

Downtown Seattle
- 1 bed, 1 bath
- 1024 square feet
- 19 floor (26 floor building)
- $2800

Pricey? Heck yeah, but we get free Starbucks coffee care of a machine that brews THE MOST AMAZING coffee. My horrendous commute every morning across the 520 toll bridge depends on this stuff.

I also rent out a 600 square feet condo on Capitol Hill
- $1495
- 1 bed 1 bath
- 1 parking spot

I live in Nashville and we pay $634 for a 1-bedroom, 705 sq ft, and a 2-bedroom is about $750-800, however just down the road, it could be as high as $3000 for an apt in the richer neighborhoods.

Wow, all of a sudden my rent seems really cheap, I pay £425 ($700ish) for a brand new 1 bedroom 450 sq ft upstairs appt in a newly build block, rent doesn't include gas/electric but all appliances were included, new blinds were put up on all windows,
( could also have had it fully furnished at no extra cost as well ! ) It's really centrally located ( 5 mins walk from work ) and I would be allowed cat or dog, landlord also built the block so any issues regards maintenance he's right on it, it has wooden floors throughout and I'm allowed to decorate if I want, no outside space but I live in Bangor N.Ireland which is a seaside town so it's really not a bother to walk 5 mins to Marina / beach, weather permitting of course!!

Holy blip. I live about an hour from Toronto (about 40 mins by GO Train). I pay $1000 a month for an all inclusive, main floor two bedroom in a century house/triplex. It's on a busy street, and some people say the neighborhood is bad (been here in this area 2 years, ZERO area related problems). BUT, I get my place- which is about 800sq ft. LAundry in the basement, large fenced yard, 2 blocks from a park/playground/rec centre, close to kids schools, a block from shopping, on transit route, three blocks from a big shopping centre, all new windows, hardwood floors, original crown moulding and details, kick ass landlords, pet friendly... I am now counting my lucky stars it's only $1000 a month! Thanks AT for showing me some appreciation! ;)

We pay $835 for 2 bedrooms, 1200 sq feet with a parking, an A/C unit and dishwasher, dryer and washing machine outlets in Gatineau (Plateau de Hull), Qc, Canada. Utilities are about $80/month (summer Ac and winter heating included). We're on the low end of the prices in that ranger. But you can get a 1 bedroom (around 750 sq feet) for about $600-$700. And the condo style flats (like mine) with hardwood and ceramic finishes go up to $1200. And if you cross the river to Ottawa, you can add about $500 to all the prices I mentioned.

2 bedroom 1 bath, w/d in unit, parking space. $1500.00 in Watertown, MA but thats cheap most are more expensive.