High & Low: What It Costs to Rent a 1200-Square-Foot Apartment in 5 U.S. Cities

Anyone who’s ever started on an apartment search knows the basic math of renting, delivered here à la Biggie Smalls: Mo’ money, mo’ square footage. If you have more dollars to spend, you can get yourself into a bigger apartment. Much bigger, in some places.

From the deep South to deep in Manhattan, here is what it costs to rent five 1200-ish-square-foot apartments across the U.S.

This historic downtown loft in Alabama fits two bedrooms in exactly 1200 square feet, plus massive windows and 15-foot-tall ceilings.

This walkable 2-bedroom, 3-story city condo for rent in Cincinnati is 1,198 square feet of natural lighting and upgraded finishes, plus a private patio.

This 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom spot on the river in Chicago features granite counters, a gas fireplace, in-unit laundry, a private patio and—drumroll please—included covered parking. Huzzah!

Here’s a duplex-style, 1,195-square-foot loft near Hollywood & Vine in L.A. It comes with 1 bedroom, 1.5 baths, 11-foot ceilings and a 24-hour doorman.

This much space in Manhattan does not come cheap. If you can afford $5K per month, you’ll be blessed with living in a 2-bedroom, 2-bath apartment in Harlem. Though it does come with lots of polish and in-unit laundry machines.

• The Cost of 500 Square Feet: From Pittsburgh to SF
• The Cost of 900 Square Feet: From Richmond to SF
• The Cost of 2000 Square Feet: From SLC to NYC