In late teens/ early twenties. A historic colonial style home. I rented the whole 2nd floor for $350 a month.

From 2001 to 2005, I rented a 1000 sq. foot apartment. One huge room, roughly 18' by 39', with 9 windows, original hemlock flooring, and a tiny kitchen and bath tacked on one side. Two fireplaces, deep window enclosures that formed a window seat at each window, 16 foot ceiling, massive crown molding, weird closets, and a small deck. For $500 a month.

If I hadn't gotten the best possible job offer and had to move out of state, I'd be there still.

first floor of a triple decker with two bedroom with living room, huge dinning room, and yard. $1300 when we paid $1225 for a medium one bedroom a block away. Boston (Somerville) walking distance to Harvard.

It was when I was in grad. student. It was a 2 bedroom/1 bathroom apartment with the greatest/largest kitchen I have ever had. Just huge. Paid $425.00 a month and could walk to campus. Lived by myself. Loved it.

ah, Dupont! I had a 3rd floor one-bedroom at 18th and S for $1000 a month. All to my self. It even had a claw foot tub. And some mice, but for that price, totally worth it.

I have lived in a one bedroom, slightly rundown apartment in the Montrose section of Houston, TX - near Rice University, the Medical Center and downtown. I pay 350.00 a month. I will have to move out because the owner is going to have to renovate and double the rent - which as a composer, I can't afford. I'm looking to relocate to another part of the country with good universities, a symphony orchestra, art museums, and the finer things - but still affordable. Someone suggested Providence, R.I. Anyone have suggestions?

My current place is a small 2 bedroom in a great South Minneapolis neighborhood for $750. That includes utilities and free saxophone lessons for my son. Best deal ever.

$300, Lincoln Nebraska in the late 80's, early 90's. Craftsman style, wood floors, lots of windows,view of the capitol, vintage wallpaper....heat paid.

I loved that apartment. Those were the days....

In my 20's - For $60
One room in a house from the 1800's. My room was the gigantic bedroom that once was for the lady of the house. There was a maid's room on the other side of the shared bathroom for another housemate, and a set up like that was once for the man of the house. Between these was a hallway of closets and built in drawers (which we shared) leading to a solarium the whole house used. Upstairs - 2 more maid's rooms and a gigantic ballroom we all used for yoga. Downstairs, for ALL of us....a music room, a library, a giant dining room, butler's pantry and kitchen big enough for 4 fridges and a big farm table. OH! And a secret staircase from the kitchen.

My rent, in case you missed it = $60

Grad school in St. Louis, one block from Wash U's campus and the huge Forest Park, one bedroom/one bath with big porch, wood floors and claw foot tub for $425/month. One of my friends lived down the street and had a 3 bedroom all by himself for maybe a few bucks more...had an entire room for all the empty boxes he moved in with.

My fiance and I are lucky enough to have a phenomenal landlord. He rented a 2 bedroom apartment from the same landlord with a buddy before we started dating. 2 years later, After our daughter was born (and after a horrible experience with the landlord we had in our first apartment together), we called up the old landlord to see if he had any units available. He said he was completely rented out, but was looking to maybe purchase another income property. He let US pick the property he bought and proceeded to rent it to us for only $850/month - 2 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, 2-story townhome (built in 2003) with a full basement (unfinished). It has been amazing,

Oh. Did I mention the huge 2-stall attached garage? It's like a choir of angels.

@Hessilou: that is funny and great!

My deal is about to end soon. For 575$ I live in Montreal in a 4.5, which is a bedroom, a separate kitchen, a dining and living room, with two balconies.

It's in a row house by the Canal, and even though it is falling apart I love it's early 20th century charm. The floors are sinking and everything is on a slant, but I have a huge bright kitchen with 10 foot ceilings across the flat. A long hallway connects all the rooms, and casts long shadows.

Alas, it was sold last week and the new owner wants to gut the place so I will have to move. I know nothing like this will ever come my way.

For 18 years, I rented a cottage in South San Francisco, CA. The area isn't anything to boost about but I had the best landlord. I could do anything I wanted within reason and he would foot the tab if I did the work.
1 b/r-1 bath w/a small enclosed garage, washer and dryer. I had both a front door and back door to a small but well maintained yard.
Walking distance to bus, train and a quick bus ride to BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) which would take me into San Francisco.
I might still be there but he passed away. After my initial shock and devastation (he passed away while on vacation), I knew his significate other would eventually move back to Sweden. It was kind of perfect timing..real estate tanked so I was able to buy my condo of 3 years across the bay from SF. I drove back about 1 year later to say hello to his wife and she greeted me with a smile and huge hug...she sold all of the real estate my landlord left her and she was going back to Sweden. I really do miss Bob...he was the best ever.
I

Sophomore year at USC (MANY years ago) with 6 friends rented a seven bedroom (approx, 6000 SF) on the east end of Hancock Park. BEAUTIFUL Craftsman that was taken down years ago along with half the block (equally large Craftsman homes) to put up condos. We each paid $100 a month (first two months free as we agreed to paint the interior for landlord).

$900 for a 2 bed in Chicago (Ukrainian Village). It was a gorgeous apartment from the 1920's with amazing woodwork, and was probably around 1000 square feet. The kitchen was HUGE! I really miss that kitchen, even if it didn't have a dishwasher.

I just moved out of a 1-bedroom apartment in Cambridge, on the 8th floor, with 180 degree views out of the 80+ windows inside (I kid you not), looking up to Harvard, down to the Charles river (with an amazing view of downtown Boston and Fenway out of our bedroom window), and east to the bay. Our last weekend there, we watched the 4th of July fireworks live from the privacy of our own room.

Best rent of all? It was FREE. We advised undergraduates in return.

It's still mine.

I had a one bedroom apartment in a small apt. building in Seattle, right on the Ship Canal between Ballard and Fremont. It had a large deck with an unobstructed view of the water, parking, storage and a big bedroom, for 725. I only moved because I bought a condo.

please let us know in your posts on location/year(s)

My then girlfriend, now wife, and I lived in the 18th floor of a building on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago. It was 1000 sq. ft. had one entire wall of glass that went the length of the apartment which included the living room, dining room and bedroom. The view was of the lake, the marina, the bike path and the golf course along Lake Shore Drive. $900.00 including indoor parking....wish I still lived there.

Maybe I'm just unlucky, but it seems like I've always paid top-dollar for housing. I don't think I've ever had a sweet deal!

@maestro58

Consider Cleveland. Our orchestra's one of the big five and we have a fabulous art museum, with a brand new contemporay on the way this fall. Case Western is in the same area, as is the Cleveland Institute of Art with their world-class Cleveland Cinematheque. Otterbein and Oberlin aren't too difficult to make a day trip to.

While I love NYC, Chicago and DC for their cultural offerings, the affordability and little big city charm of Cleveland is unparalleled.

Just stick to the east side. :-)

My very first apartment, fresh out of college, was a studio in Silverlake, on the corner of Sunset & Santa Monica. $725/month, all utilities included. The building itself wasn't much to write home about but the location couldn't be beat. Walking distance to the best Silverlake has to offer including Intelligentsia Coffee, 0.5 miles from the farmer's market, 0.5 miles to a Metro red line station to take me straight into Downtown LA (for work) in 10 minutes without the hassle of traffic or parking.

I feel like the place I live in now is a total deal. $675 for a 475 sq ft studio in NW Portland (close enough to the Pearl that when I tell people my address they'll often mistake it as such).

Now, $675 for that size may not seem like such a steal-- but it is SO well laid-out, and it's basically a 1-br but since the "dressing room" (aka the bedroom) doesn't have a window facing out (i.e. a legal egress) it only counts as a studio. Water (heated), sewer, trash, recycling all included.

The building is 101 years old, with original hardwoods and other quirky built-ins and woodwork. So full of character. South-facing windows with tons of light and a view of Lair Hill. Plus, $60/year on-street parking and I can always find a spot right in front. Plus, really hands-off landlords that don't care if you paint or make other modifications to the space.

I don't think I can ever move!

@hipkip - parking included makes that a steal.

until last month, we rented a 1200 sqft, single family home, with backyard and extra side lot, in East Pilsen/Chicago for $800 a month. loved that place.

As requested by another post: More infor:
My rental was about 900 sq. ft. I paid $750.00 a month in 1994 and was paying only $915.00 in 2009 when I moved. (remember, this is California and that was a STEAL)! The landlord hardly ever raised the rent and when he did, it was $15.00 at the most. One year he did raised all of our rents $75.00 due to some major plumbing work that he had to have done.

I am currently renting a 1 bedroom apartment, approx 450 sq ft, heat included for $320.00 a month. I live about 40 minutes from downtown Vancouver, BC (by bus and skytrain). It's a great apartment but with no frills, not run down at all :)

Cap hill/uptown Denver studio, but large by any means, for $500. All hardwood floors, brand new appliances, included all utilities but electricity and the building had free wifi. Loved that!!

In 1998 I rented a 1 bedroom apartment in NYC's SoHo (at the corner of Sullivan St & Spring St) for $1375.00. When I left in 2001 I think it was up to about $1425.00. It was about 600 sq ft with an eat in kitchen, a full bath and very high ceilings. The same apartment would go for about $3,000.00 per month now I'm sure.

After being rejected for multiple apartments for being American and once for "having an unlucky birthday," I lucked out on a cute, never-lived-in apartment in my favorite neighborhood in Tokyo (Shimokitazawa) a couple years ago for about $750 a month.

It was tiny -- 350 square feet -- and I shared it with my fiance a few months later, but it was perfect and we even entertained quite often. We had one big bedroom/living room area, a little kitchen that fit our tiny table and two stools, even a washer/dryer. It was right along a gorgeous stream where cherry blossoms bloomed each spring, perfect for picnics and jogging and riding bikes.

The catch was that we could only live there for one year, and then the landlady's sister was planning to move in.

Golly I miss that place.

I just rented a VERY large room in a beautiful victorian home located in Ditmas Park (Brooklyn). The house is 3 stories (not including the basement) with hardwood floors, tall ceilings, a great backyard with a pear tree, a large front porch with a swing and sky lights so that at night you can see the moon. The neighborhood is quiet and I have the top floor with my own bathroom and claw foot bathtub. My rent is $850 per month- that includes everything. Three other ladies live here with me and we love it.

The apartment I live in now that I will never leave. Nothing great in the architecture detail except for weirdly having 5 huge closets in 495 sq. ft. But at $800 for a third level one bedroom in closet to everything Mt. Pleasant, it can't be beat

2 years ago, Highgate Village (ish), London. Victorian hilltop flatshare with huge private rooftop terrace and amazing views of the city. £300 per MONTH incl everything except electric. Unheard of in zone 2 london!
BUT Because:
1. my room was in the loft and tiny
2. one of the 3 bedrooms was actually the lounge so the instead of splitting the rent between 2, it was split between 3. So the beautiful terrace was our only common area (which suited me fine cuz one of my flatmates was an absolute twat)
3. landlord lived in ireland and had never visited in the 3 years I lived there. He had no clue how valuable the building was and let us decorate however we wanted.

From 1997 to 2004 I lived in West Hollywood, CA one block south of the infamous Sunset Strip and one block east of Beverly Hills in a great 1950s 600 sq. foot studio with full kitchen, old classic stove, hardwood floors and a city view from my enormous windows for only $572 a month due to rent control. It was AMAZING!!! They eventually paid me to leave (so they could raise the rent) which was enough for a down payment on a house!

Late 1990s: $490 (utils included) for a one-bedroom in a great Long Beach, California, neighborhood two blocks from the beach. The apartment was probably 600 square feet, huge kitchen, hardwood floors, claw foot tub, cool built-ins, lots of character. Shared yard. I moved from there to an $1100 one-bedroom in Westwood—that hurt!

2 years ago I moved out of a massive rundown overpriced 3 bdrm apartment into a quiet 1 bdrm. There is a livingroom/dining area/kitchen, a good sized bedroom with a huge closet with built in shelving, and a large bathroom. Also there is deck with plenty of room for company on warm Summer nights.

Heat, lights and hot water included...$500 a month.

I Bought a combined 1 bedroom and a studio in a very nice 28 story high rise in downtown Detroit a year ago for 4000.00. It is currently featured in Detroithomemagazine.com

My first apartment in San Francisco was $800, including underground parking. It was 1993 and the building had ZERO charm, but still!

My current apartment is a pretty good deal, considering the current SF market. I'm paying a little over $1,500 for a large one-bedroom with two walk-in closets and an eat-in kitchen. It would probably go for $1,800 or more if I were to move out tomorrow. When I moved in 3 years ago it was only $1,495 because it doesn't get a lot of natural light. It feels cozy, though...I love it. I've never had this much kitchen storage...it has a built-in hutch in addition to the regular number of cabinets, and still room for a normal-sized kitchen table.

sharing the top floor of a 3-story house in williamsburg, brooklyn with my boyfriend. comparatively huge bathroom, eat-in kitchen big enough to also accomodate my work space of a computer and shelf, huge living room, and a small sleeping nook enough to fit a queen size bed and a closet. windows in every room (two in living room and kitchen). clawfoot tub, rickety charming floor boards. $1200/month. So I we split it, i pay $600.

williamsburg brooklyn average real state is about $2000 for a 1 bedroom (maybe). or a studio. I dont live in bushwick.

I have a pretty sweet deal right now, considering I live alone in New York (well, Brooklyn). I pay $1,000/month for a 200sqft studio with a lofted sleeping area and a storage loft above the bathroom and ALL OF MY UTILITIES INCLUDED. The only thing I pay out of pocket is internet.

Just out of college, I rented a one bedroom apartment for $500/month in a brownstone in Boston, two blocks away from the Hancock Building. Within two years, the building along with many others owned by the landlord, now developer, converted to condos and I was able to buy my apartment at an excellent price with no money down and good financing provided by the landlord/developer. I had to move out for a month so the apartment could be upgraded (new kitchen, new bathroom, carpeting, etc.) I lucked out big time, I thought it would be years before I could buy a place but I did so at the age of 24.

I live with my husband in a 500sf one bedroom on a cliff over the pacific ocean. We pay 800/month, utilities included. In La Jolla, CA :)

I'm fully aware we'll never be this lucky again.

We currently rent a one bedroom bungalo: amazing hardwood floors, full basement, plaster walls, shared drive, back patio, living room and dining room. All just blocks from the lake on the near westside of Cleveland for $375 from an awesome landlord who let's us have our three dogs for no extra.

More than 2 decades ago in Vancouver I lived alone in a very small, perhaps 350 square feet, apartment with no bedroom, just a double-bed-sized alcove in the wall with cute glass doors. There were giant drawers under the bed behind the doors. There was a separate stairway to the outdoors, I got the newspaper delivered every morning. There was a lovely back deck/stairway/patio that everyone used in common, and my tiny kitchen had a back door out there as well. Over the front stairwell was a gigantic storage area behind a door in the living room wall. There was a big closet at the top of the front stairway. There was an even bigger closet outside the bathroom. It was plain, well-made, with hardwood floors everywhere, 1930s. Probably many people would want to rip out 1 or 2 of the closets and have more floor area.
The apartment was on the 3rd, top floor. The building was up a small hill from the street. My street was up a steep hill from Commercial Drive. And Commercial Drive to downtown Vancouver is one big incline. I bicycled home from work every day, sat in my very large (almost) floor-to-ceiling window every evening and watched the sun set behind the silhouette of Vancouver Island. This apartment cost $225 a month, everyone else in the building paid very little as well, we had no idea why. I would move back in tomorrow if I could.

Maestro: look at Central / Western NY state. Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo. Lots of folks from downstate NYC area are moving up to the Fingerlakes area (Skaneateles & Ithaca) and you will really be surprised what you can get here for your money. All the things on your list, too.

None of the apartments I had in NYC were a deal, but the best deal was in Syracuse NY's historic walkable Eastwood neighborhood was a 2br on the 2nd floor of a 2-family house. Hardwoods throughout, very cute, $450/month in 2001. Those were the days.

$645 for a "studio" (lkitchen, main room and bathroom), second floor of a Philly rowhome in a great neighborhood. Everything was right outside my door. 350 square feet and perfect for one person.

$96 dollars per month including utilities. I had a bedroom in an 8 bedroom mansion in the early 90s. It was a crazy place to live, a back staircase, gorgeous wood, and decades worth of odd stuff in the basement including over 50 crutches. 7 roommates and major roommate drama. Ah to be 19 again...

And, currently I'm in an $800/mo heat included 2br with huge bath, dining & living areas, galley kitchen, 22 stairs to my apartment on the 2nd floor of a 100+ year old building, smack in the town center of Skaneateles, NY. No hardwoods, but 15 ft ceilings, 7 closets (2 walk-in), glass doorknobs, & French doors between living room & hallway. Steps away from and views of one of the cleanest lakes in the world right from my living room. 2 miles from work. Short of living in a big city, this is the best place on earth!

My best deal was in a prewar brownstone on Restaurant Row in NYC from 95-98. It was a one-room studio, about 550 sq. ft., with huge double oak doors, 13 foot ceilings, two chandeliers, and a bed loft. I paid $850, utilities included. And since the owners also owned the restaurant below, I got a free meal every time I paid the rent. It was amazing.

I realize people don't want to age themselves, but giving a price without a year doesn't really mean much. $500 in 2012 is ridiculously cheap for even a one bedroom apartment but $500 in 1960, a completely different story.

I rented an incredible studio (but it had a separate dining room) on Castro at about 21st Street in San Francisco. The rooms were big. Two walk-in closets, both with windows, provided more than enough storage for me. Rent was unbelievably cheap, but one of the windows in the living room bay didn't quite close all the way. The owner's (then-) partner helped me paint everything. It was bliss.

In 2006-2007 I lived in the area behind The Drake Hotel in Toronto. I guess it was still a bit up-and-coming (definitely no trendy bars on Dundas!) but I was coming from an even dodgier area and it was luxury to me.

When I was looking to move from a terrible roommate situation I scoured craigslist. The going rate for a basement bachelor was around $900 which I definitely could not afford. I found one ad that didn't list an area other than West Toronto and had no pictures. Oh and it was $550 inclusive.

I showed up at the open house convinced I was walking into a trap. Instead, it was an incredibly cute full 1 bedroom apartment in the basement of a wonderful blue row house. Sure the ceilings were short. There was only 1 window, but I had a beautiful exposed brick wall in my big eat in kitchen and a full bedroom and separate living room.

The landlords were sweet and it even had AC. Rare for Toronto. I only moved out to move in with my boyfriend, and our rent for the two of us to live in a one bedroom ended up being almost 3x what that place was.

Paris - early 1990's - 2-bedroom IKEA-furnished garret in a 6-floor walk-up in the 11th arrondisement: $425 a month.

Montreal - 1994-2001 - 8.5 room (entire ground floor of a classic turn-of-the-[other]last-century triplex). Double salon set up: Library, living room, storage, 1st bedroom, bathroom, large dining room, 2nd bedroom off the dining room, large sit-down kitchen, back laundry/storage room. And a concrete backyard with my fairylights dangling from the circular outside staircase. Located just off carré St-Louis near Pine & St-Denis: $565 a month (hydro not included but was about $120 a month on the monthly plan).

Vancouver - 2003 to present - 1 bedroom, 900+ sq. foot dated apartment with storage room, overlooking Commercial Drive in the heart of Little Italy: $425 a month (plus $30 in electricity per month).

The downside to having a great apartment, though, is hanging around the city longer than you should just because you have such an incredible deal. I probably should have left Montreal at least two years before I did just because I loved my apartment so much... .

The home I live in now! I moved to country Western Australia as rent prices in the city became completely ridiculous. I prefer to live alone and it wasn't viable in Perth. I now pay $220/week for a beautiful cottage surrounded by natural bush and farms. I'm only ten minutes from town and work and I have fantastic neighbours who I have the perfect balance of friendly/respectful of space with. I adore it here, and after ten years of dodgy landlords/nosy neighbours/crazy housemates I never ever want to leave!

Well, I thought I had a steal until I started reading these comments! $1100 for a 630 sq ft one-bedroom in West Harlem. Hardwood floors, attentive super, roof access, and laundry in the building next door. Best part is, I'm 15 minutes to Columbia (where I work).

2010-present: I rent a 1-bedroom condo in the Atlantic Station community within Atlanta, GA (walking distance from GA Tech, public transportation, and lots of shopping/dining/etc) and the like for $850 (including garage parking and all utilities except cable)–a steal for a neighborhood where the average rent for similar units is $1500.

My mortgage on a 1500 square foot house with 2 car attached garage, hardwood floors, fireplace and huge backyard is $280/month. If we were to rent it out, the most we could charge is probably $375, maaaaybe $400.

Orange County, CA - Our first apartment was in Orange, CA, right in Old Towne within walking distance of Chapman University, the library, the park, countless antique shops and restaurants. Two bedroom, one bath with a garage and balcony for 1200. I loved that place. It might not have been a *steal* but compared with some other places in the area...yeah. I loved it.

I am currently living in Toronto(Queen St) in a main-floor studio apartment,everything included for $725! This is hydro,cable,internet,water,heat,AC.EVERYTHING. It is a large studio with a human-sized fridge and bathroom with enough space for me to have a distinctive bedroom-living room-dining area-kitchen. Best thing about it? It's a 6 min.walk to my school campus. My friends are all envious of my luck!

And laundry is right upstairs too! A God-send for a college student :)

$400 for 1 bedroom including ALL utilities but cable in Augusta, Georgia in 2003! Beautiful old victorian home with all the trimmings converted into apartments. The downside was that the neighborhood was spotty. Still, best deal ever!

It even came complete with a secret, hidden compartment behind a small bookshelf!

My current apartment. It is in a town where 1 bedrooms in owner-occupied 2 family houses go for 1500 a month (I hate owner occupied). I have a 2.5 bedroom apartment with a private deck in a 3 unit apartment building for 1200 a month. I think it was purely because the landlord and I "clicked" and he could tell I would be the ideal tenant (pay on time, no loud parties/music). He lets me have pets, and when I moved in game me a month's free rent if I wanted to paint the place myself (which cost half of what the rent would be) in any colors I want. Yes, it is an old building and was last "renovated" in the 80s, but it has wood floors, high ceiling, large windows, and did I mention the private deck?

Great comments by everyone so far - okay, my sweet deal apartment is northwest suburbs of Chicago. It's about 650-sq feet with wood floors. Nothing fancy, but over time I have made it my home. It's comfortable, front door, back sliding door, ground level. I've created a little outdoor patio to sit and enjoy with a grill. I take care of the apartment building (4-units, including mine). I've added flowers and plants around the building. $480/month ... but I pay utilities.

For the past two years I paid $283 close to downtown Richmond, Virginia. I lived with two other people. Technically it was a one-bedroom with a living room, dining room and office. We lived above a coffee shop, so there was free internet. We only paid for gas and electricity. There was a deck that looked over a decent sized backyard. The kitchen was huge, and we had a washer, dryer and dishwasher. Definitely the best deal I've heard of anywhere. The downside to the apartment was that it had a severe lack of windows.

My (now) husband and I, plus a roommate, rented the penthouse apartment of a lofty apartment complex in the beautiful, historic Highland Park neighborhood of Birmingham, Alabama (yes, it is a real city). It was 2400 square feet, 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, and had a lawn and two long covered porches on the roof of the building. Since my husband and I shared a room, we had a guest bedroom. Our rent, combined, was just over $1500/month, and this is a fairly expensive neighborhood. It was like stealing (except for the ungodly utility bills), and it was the best party pad in the city.

I'll echo the sentiments of those who have said that, after reading the other comments, they're not sure their deals are such deals! Still, it's nice to reminisce...

Early 80's - $187.50 a month for a tiny pre-war studio on Darlington Avenue in Brentwood/L.A. If you know the area, you probably know these apartments - they're little Spanish tile roofed places that line a central walkway, one block south of San Vicente and a few blocks north of Wilshire. With this kind of location you almost don't need a car, which is a rarity in L.A. Bonus: free parking out back.

Mid-to-late 90s - $575 for a 550'ish square foot 1940s bungalow (with garage!) west of Bundy off Ocean Park Boulevard near the Santa Monica Airport. The front and back doors lined up so you got amazing cross ventilation (front also had a screen door, which I pine for now that I live in NYC), plus the location meant that no A/C was necessary. Back door opened onto grassy area which lent itself to hanging out/parties and offered a place to gather and calm nerves after the 1994 Northridge earthquake (tequila shots at 5 a.m.!). But most importantly, I was blessed with very cool neighbors (one of whom is still a top tier friend). Good times...

My current apartment is the best deal in all of the city...Halifax, Nova Scotia. My boyfriend and I live in a 900sq. ft. apartment, three appliances, heat and hot water included, two bedrooms for only $770/mth. laundry is just downstairs and the neighbours are all super sweet. Most of the other buildings in my neighbourhood range between $900-$1350 for one bedroom apartments.

Current apartment is a steal. I looked at a dozen studios for $1200 and more in the Jamaica Plain, Allston/Brighton and Mission Hill neighborhoods before finally getting a TWO bedroom for $1100 in JP for my fiance and I. We rent out the spare bedroom on airbnb making $600 amonth, so in all our rent is $250 each!

We just signed a lease in Central/Powderhorn Minneapolis for $900 a month. It's a 2-bedroom with a large kitchen, dishwasher, separate living and dining, great hardwoods, molding and built-ins. Plus a free washer and dryer, and a 1-stall garage with an opener. Plus a porch! And a little yard! We're thrilled.

State College, PA 2006. I got really lucky and through a friend of friend got this 2 bedroom 1940's brick cottage with original details for 350 a month. Walking distance to campus and also close to everything within driving distance. Front yard and back yard. The cottage was surrounded by a nice hedge fence with two huge trees in the front yard. There was even a little picket fence gate, with a heart cut out. It was precious.The place came fully furnished. Original wood floors, 1940s kitchen and bathroom tiles, wood windows. It had a free parking spot, laundry room with free washer and dryer that I did not have to pay for and all utilities were included in the rent even cable. Also there was a friend of the landlords living in the basement who took care of maintenance, I never shoveled snow, raked a leaf, mowed a lawn the whole time I lived there. And the landlord was super nice, when I moved in I asked him for a new full mattress instead of the twin size mattress that was already in the room and he provided it. (he probably got it for free from the curb since it was a college town but still) and also he got me a dresser and a bookcase. Best deal hands down ever!!

Several years ago I was able to rent a large studio apartment in Printers Row in Chicago for $750/mo. At the time, the apartment building was redoing their facade and had plywood leaning against 3 windows. I loved it. While other studios in the area were going for $1200+, I was living in my dream apartment -- and I could _afford_ it! Truth be told, I liked the plywood. The windows they covered looked over a short hallway rooftop and directly into someone else's kitchen!

It was a one room studio with lofted bedroom on St. Botolph St. 10 minute subway ride from work; 5 minute cab to the hot spots in town; restaurants/shops/museums everywhere. I was about 6 blocks from the Prudential Center, and 4 blocks from the (new) John Hancock tower.

The studio was 400/month, including utilities. It was the perfect transition between adolescence and grown-up apartment space. I lived there for almost 3 years before moving to Ireland. 30 years later, I still mourn for it.

Hmmm. There was the entire adobe house I rented in Santa Fe for several months for $65 month back in the early-70s. And the studio apartment over Chris Owens' nightclub at Bourbon and Rue Saint Louis in the New Orleans' French Quarter back in 1974 for $100 a month. I rented a studio on Avenue A and 11th Street in the East Village 1976-1977 for $90 a month. Lived there for a year then moved to San Francisco's Nob Hill and rented a garden apartment on California Street for $140. I refuse to hand over my life savings for a place to sleep. And TWNT1ANDCOUNTING -- you do have a steal. Enjoy.

Current apartment is absolutely wonderful.

two bedrooms + large living room + large kitchen/dinning room + historic building + hardwood floors + antique stained glass windows + tiny balcony (north side) + deck (south side) + shared courtyard in back + original tin ceiling in entryway + washer and dryer + teeny tiny bathroom = $400/month (no utilities included)

It's my sanctuary.

One thousand square foot, pre-war, one bedroom in Forest Hills, just off Austin Blvd..
Great neighborhood, gorgeous building, beautiful details.
Rent controlled at $212.00 a month.
That would be 1981.

Years ago, I graduated into a recession. It meant crappy jobs, but also cheap real estate. I bought a studio apartment on the Upper West Side of Manhattan that didn't seem cheap at the time, but is now still just $400 a month. I guess sometimes it takes a while for a place to become a great deal.

From 2004-2006, I rented a 2-bedroom railroad apartment in Park Slope, Brooklyn, half a block from the subway, for $975/mo.

The reason it was so cheap was because the floors were horrendous (the carpet had been ripped up and the floor partially painted, but it had not been sanded and still had tons of little nails in it) and the bathroom door didn't close all the way. I didn't care--I loved having 4 whole rooms to myself in that neighborhood. I just put down lots of area rugs.

My best deal is still mine -- in the Dupont area of DC. Studio, about 550 sq ft, corner unit, high ceilings, TONS of light, big kitchen, separate foyer/dining area, charming original 1920s fixtures and touches (creaky wood floors, big old wood doors with brass knobs, claw foot tub, big ceramic sinks). Rent is $1200, which includes utilities. I'm so lucky, and I want to hold on to this place as long as I can!!

post-Katrina New Orleans, a HUGE gorgeous old house in the French Quarter, 1/2 a block off Bourbon Street that had been converted into apartments years before. A friend and I had the entire top (third) floor to ourselves. wrap around balcony, off street parking, 18ft ceilings with exposed beams, hidden storage units in the walls between the dormer windows, 2 bedrooms with a Jack & Jill bathroom. Unfortunately it was sold 2 years later, and the new owners converted it back into a single family home. But for those 2 years, we lived the life - friends constantly stopping by for dinner and drinks on the balcony, making a cocktail and taking it for a walk around the neighborhood with us, popping back home to freshen it up as needed.

Before we had kids my husband and I rented a beach cottage in White Rock, BC with a 180 degree view of the water, our room was in a loft carved out of the attic where we woke up to that view. We rented the house, albeit small with its amazing deck, view and garden for $700. The downside was it was not insulated so it the winter when the West Coast rain hit it was a tad chilly.

Wow, you guys need to come to rural MS. Even your best deals are still astronomical to us, ha ha. My aunt once rented a three-bedroom/two-bath with separate office, library loft, and a pool maintained by the landlord for $500/month and then right after that, rented a five-bedroom with living room and den, two dining areas, balcony, and huge backyard for $1,000. I've seen several smaller two-bedroom apartments with super since kitchens, tile floors, crown molding in nice neighborhoods rent for $300-400/month.
There is a two-bedroom house across the road from my house that sold for less than $20,000 last summer. It was once a railroad flophouse and pretty cool-looking. It's a little small (though not as small as many places I see on here), but it cost about as much as the vehicle I drive.

Of course, when I say rural MS, I mean the true middle of nowhere. Areas with no paved roads...

i think the best deal is what i have right now. i live in new york city and most studios start from $1200 and up and they are teeny tiny :(
but! i found a one bedroom (basement..but lots of natural light during the day) for $700! :D
utilities included. good neighborhood, and most importantly, there's space and it's clean!

A couple years ago, three friends, my boyfriend, and I all rented a 4 bedroom/3 bath in Hyde Park in Chicago. It was the entire 3rd floor and had just recently been remodeled. Stunning kitchen, big living room, big dining room, sunroom (ie guest room), in-unit wash/dry, on top of the 4 beds and 3 baths. All the appliances etc were great quality. It was $2800 for the whole place, ie 560 per person, which was a steal for the quality, city, and neighborhood. Usually places like that refuse to rent to undergraduates (which most of us were), but I think the guy made an exception because it was his only property in the neighborhood, and he just wanted it filled. The best part was that I was the only girl in the group of 5, so I had that near-gourmet kitchen almost to myself. :)

Studio flat in Helsinki, 28.5 square metres (yes, at that size the .5 was very important!) for €450 including water and district heating. I moved in there in January 2002 and left in May 2007 - and the rent never went up.

It was tiny (in one furniture configuration the foot of my bed was under the dining table) but lovely (high ceilings, wooden floors), and was very well placed for public transport - buses, trams and metro all within a few minutes of my front door.

Mid-'80s, flatshare in London (West Hampstead, edge of St. John's Wood, overlooking a park) for a mind-boggling £35/week (about $40 at the time, when the dollar was strong).

Early '90s, HUGE 2-bed w/ separate dining room and entry hall in a prewar Allston MA apartment building with hardwoods, gas appliances, original glass-front cabinets, black and white tile bathrooms, coffered ceilings & bay windows...split $725 rent (H/HW included) with 1 roommate. Cheap even for back then.

And the place I just moved from (an admittedly shabby-genteel 1860s Portland, ME historic district Mansard chopped up into 1-bed units) had 12-foot ceilings, hardwoods, and was 10 minutes or less on foot from everything in town...was way below market rate at $650/mo (H/HW included). I was tired of the lack of storage and guest space, but you put up with a lot for a good deal. I'd probably still be there if I hadn't finally bought a place.

A few years ago I was a college student in Plattsburgh, NY. My best friend and I rented a huge 2 bedroom in a building above some super adorable small shops. There were high ceilings and windows in every room, including the bathroom, and they all overlooked a park and the end of a river emptying out into lake champlain. The living room had 2 walls of windows, the windows alone were 6ft tall/3 ft wide, each wall facing different parks. It was the only street in the town that had nice buildings and cute shops, so we felt very lucky to be on it. Also, we were within viewing distance of a historic city hall building with a dome ceiling on it and a monument that looks like the washington monument with a bird on it. If it doesn't get any better, the park we were facing was the place where the town holds it's fireworks of several events and the street in front of our living room was the location for parades (prime viewing). ...all for the combined price of $600.

I'm currently in my favorite of all the apartments I've lived in. First floor, two bedroom, HUGE kitchen, AND I have a fireplace! Tile floors throughout make cleaning a breeze and because the building is adobe, I don't even need air conditioning! And the rent is only $875. Which is roughly half what I was paying in my old place which was smaller and had a closet of a kitchen.

As newlyweds in 1981, my husband and I paid $500 a month for a three bedroom flat in a duplex. It had hardwood floors, custom cabinetry, a butler's pantry, 2 baths, garage parking, a fireplace, washer and dryer in the basement with a laundry shoot and 27 windows. It had one of those cool little milk doors that we actually had mild delivered to. The best part was the spinster teachers and their 92 year old maiden aunt who owned the place and lived downstairs controlled the heat and paid for it. It was so toasty warm during those Milwaukee winters that I wore summer pajamas all year round. I don't think we know how good we had it. We were 2 blocks from Lake Michigan in tony litte neighborhood near UW Milwaukee.

Mine was definitely my first apartment -- tiny though it was, I had my own one-bedroom in Toronto's Parkdale area for $600 inclusive in my 20s (2004-2007). It was too small to share with my husband when we were married, but for 3 1/2 years, I'm positive it was the best deal in Toronto! I even had a little article written about it in one of the Alt Weeklies: http://contests.eyeweekly.com/eye/issue/issue_12.02.04/plus/myapt.php

From 2000 - 2009 I paid 1100GBP for a two bed flat in London, directly across the road from Hyde Park. It was in a Regency building constructed in 1834 and we had views south across the park and east into the city. We would spend summer days and evenings outside in the park, lazing with a group of friends, with the convenience of a fridge full of food and wine just steps away. Within walking distance were amazing museums and art galleries, great places to eat and cozy local pubs. I could not imagine a better location to live in London.

Right now I pay $315 a month with half rent during summers. My apartment is 3 bedroom with a 2 person lease (which means free room), it has a great floor plan, it is top story and a 10 minute walk to my university.

My ex and I were struggling artists with crummy paying jobs. We moved to a highly reputed neighborhood in Grand Rapids, MI, the childhood home of Henry Ford. The 2nd floor of this house had been vacant for years and it smelled that way too.

After filling up a few dumpsters full of junk and giving the entire place a thorough scrub down, my share of the rent was $250, no utilities. Hardwood floors throughout, historical delapitated appearance, vintage appliances, 1300 sq feet with a rickety patio that had a beautiful view.

Best deal I ever had. We had plenty of room to spread out and ever roller skate.

downtown frederick, MD (my hometown) with two good friends; total rent was $400, split three ways...crazy. though not a huge city, there was lots to do and downtown was hoppin' for three ladies in their early 20s. the apartment was big, too—however, it was slightly run-down due to the elderly owners who hadn't updated anything in years (not to mention no idea what they could charge for prime space). there were lots of memories made that year, and i'll always remember it fondly as the last hurrah before i picked up to move out-of-state with my now-husband!

maestro58- Check out Nashville, TN. It has a great Symphony, music and lots of universities. Blair School of Music is incredible. My Best to you.

where I live now...1900 sf in Upper Upper West Side Manhattan, 15 min to work on the train, stabilized rent under $2000, huge bedroom, big kitchen with dishwasher, dining room with french doors (used as office) floor to ceiling window in living room.

@maestro58 - Providence, RI is great. Very good symphony, nice museums, revitalized downtown, good restaurants, many universities (Brown, RISD, Johnson&Wales), colleges, the finer things as you say. Boston is only 1 hour away, NYC 3 hours. Compared to those two cities, rents are very reasonable but I don't know if you can get a decent apartment for $350/month.
Moving to RI from Texas you will be mystified by some of the local habits - like the reluctance to drive more than 15 miles to do anything (drive 30 miles and chances are you've left the state).

Before the real estate started climbing in price again, and about a year before Financial District become 'cool' in NYC, in 2009 I rented a luxury 2 bedroom apartment, with 3 people, free rooftop, gym, doorman and laundry....and we each paid $933....we rented it for 18 months, and by the time we moved out, they raised our rent $1300 dollars for the next tenants. We won that one!

right now, I live in a nice three bedroom apartment in a three family house. great neighborhood in downtown Newport, RI, gorgeous in-ground pool, and plenty of parking (a rarity for some apartments in this city!)$1400 a month, but my share is $450, utilities included.

In grad school, I had an entire 800+ square foot upstairs corner apartment to myself for $500/mo. This included a whopping $15/mo cable deal and so much storage space I didn't know what to do with it all-- amazing!

From 1989-1992, my husband and I rented in a newly built condo building overlooking Columbus Circle in NYC. Our one bedroom was $2200/month and over the course of four years, the rent went DOWN to $1875/month. We had a full view of all of the 843 acres of Central Park. My mother would bring her friends to stay at our place when we went out of town. Twenty years later, she still hasn't forgiven us for moving to suburbia.

My apartment right now! My boyfriend and I live in an approx. 800 square foot 1 bedroom in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia. Hardwood floors, HUGE kitchen, and we have the whole third floor (windows on every wall). Apartment is a block away from the main road in Chestnut Hill and 15/20 minutes to Center City. We pay $795/month (400 each)...

But we're about to move to a TINY 1 bedroom in Glover Park, Washington DC for $1550 with no utilities included. So sad...

We (husband, myself, twins and a dog) live in amazing house rental. We have been blessed with the most amazing landlord. When we were considering the house it was a dump, the previous tenants had done terrible unmentionable things to the home. Our landlord told us to walk around the house, make a list of what was wrong/needed to be replaced or fixed and she would take care of it. Not only did we get paint but new carpeting, new countertops, plumbing, electricity, fire alarm system, a brand new fence in the back yard. It looks like a brand new home. She is so generous and so kind and we love her dearly. We are truely blessed.

From 2006 - 2011 I rented a THREE bedroom 1185 sqf apartment in Vancouver's West End for $1250/month. It was a first floor walk up (own entrance) in a 100 year old character building. If you're unfamiliar with Vancouver BC real estate, a decent ONE bedroom apartment downtown goes for $1300 - $2000 / month. I only left to move in with my boyfriend in a condo that he owns. (the condo is 640sqf and would rent for $1700/month). So basically I had the best deal in town!

When I first moved to Florida in 1993 I rented an 800 square foot one bedroom right on the Gulf for $250. My morning commute to work would consist of carrying my shoes, walking out the door, and walking a mile up the beach.

There was nothing fancy about the apartment but it did have a a laundry room with washer, dryer and plenty of storage. And of course the view out the windows was fantastic.

My first apartment (the one I just moved into in April) is a pretty amazing deal. I live right outside of Albany, NY. Nothing decent is under $800... except for my apartment. I live in a 1890s 2-bedroom, third flood walk-up with my boyfriend. Our living room has vaulted ceilings, our dining room has a decorative fireplace, our bathroom has a claw-foot tub. We have a balcony which overlooks a beautiful shared courtyard. Our bedroom also overlooks the courtyard and the other 1890s home across the way. We use the second bedroom as an office/mancave. We get free laundry which is in a small building across the way. Our landlord is a great, friendly guy. He's always inviting my boyfriend over for a beer. We have free parking and we're only blocks away from downtown. I love coming home everyday. I've made it very cozy and warm and welcoming.

The best thing about my boyfriend and I's apartment is that we pay $600 a month for it. Gas and electric are around $60 in the winter and $120 in the summer. We're in our early 20s and we don't earn much even though we're constantly working so the cost is perfect for our budget. I'm glad we found our apartment. It's the best deal ever.

Everyone here seems to be talking about rentals, but we recently bought our apartment and got an amazing deal (by our standards).
We had been shopping for months, seeing endless apartments that all looked alike. Until one day we stumbled upon an old apartment from 1930 that was by the river, had lots of history, beautiful wood floors, high ceilings, next to a charming part of town... and at least 20,000 euros less than other comparable apartments! Finding the apartment of your dreams- at a a discount!

I had to post. When I lived in NY, it was hard to find a bargain and a safe area for my family and I. We wanted to live in Manhattan because it was close to church, work, family and amenities GALORE! Our first apartment was a 1 bedroom, lots of closet space-but in Yonkers for $1025. Our second apartment was a one bedroom in upper Manhattan for $1100. Our third apartment was in upper Manhattan-a studio at $996. We thought we were getting a deal! We moved to Massachusetts a few months ago and just got an apartment- one bedroom, beautiful, quiet area, large, parking RIGHT infront of our apartment and at $725 per month- it's the best steal.

My best deal came at the end of 2009 when a friend of mines told me about a basement apartment coming up for rent on Connecticut Avenue (Vann Ness/UDC) and I got the apartment. The Awesomeness?!: $950, 1 bedroom, 1 bath, seperate kitchen and washer/dryer in unit, dishwasher, huge closet (could have been another bedroom), parking space, yard and front porch...and the grill outside did not hurt either. Also, a 2 block walk from the metro. Absolute best deal I had to date.

My best deal came actually not this passed january but the one before, so 2011. Scored a 2 bedroom Apt in San Jose, CA right near downtown in Japantown for only 975 a month. Thats right, 975!! Yes, the man was old and there was a lot that needed to be done with the apartment (it needed a painting badddd) i still think its a pretty good deal because i was having trouble finding just a studio around that price.

I live near nashville tn and I kid you not I am renting a two bedroom two bath house with 7 acres of land for $250 a month. The house is off the beaten path a little but well worth it. Also it is more than a 100 years old, but well maintained. With a little tlc I was able to spruce this old home up and now it gets compliments from everyone who steps foot in it. So basically the lesson I learned was sometimes if you sacrifice a downtown place for something a little farther out it will pay off in the end.

New York - 1st Floor Brownstone Studio w/ sleeping loft (queen size), about 250 sq feet... but... on the UWS of Manhattan in the low 80's, near Broadway. $1400/mo and that is the "new" rent after being raised. Found on Craigslist by owner, with no broker fee, to boot. That's nuts.