Rent keeps climbing nationally — Zillow’s Observed Rent Index showed rents up 2.3% year-over-year in July 2026, the fastest pace in more than a year. But ‘national’ hides enormous local differences. Zillow’s August 2026 research ranked the 100 largest U.S. metros by the share of rental listings priced under $1,000 a month, and in the cheapest city, more than 4 in 10 listings clear that bar. Here are America’s 10 cheapest cities to rent in 2026, by the data.
How ‘cheapest’ is measured
Zillow defines cheap rent by price: the percentage of rental listings in a metro priced under $1,000 per month (zillow.com). Apartment List’s September 2026 national rent report puts the overall U.S. median rent at $1,388 per month, down 0.1% month-over-month (apartmentlist.com). Every metro below beats that national figure by a wide margin.
1. Toledo, OH — 42.6% of listings under $1,000
Toledo tops the nation: 42.6% of rental listings cost less than $1,000 a month. Apartment List ranks it the most affordable of America’s 100 largest cities, with an overall median rent of just $916 — the only city under $1,000 on that measure.
2. Wichita, KS — 38.8%
Kansas’s largest city comes in second, with 38.8% of listings under $1,000. Apartment List’s median rent for Wichita is $1,029, more than $350 below the national median.
3. Little Rock, AR — 38.0%
Arkansas’s capital lands third, with 38% of listings under $1,000 — one of three metros where the share tops 38%.
4. McAllen, TX — 37.4%
The Rio Grande Valley metro of McAllen takes fourth at 37.4%, the cheapest rental market in Texas by this measure.
5. Tucson, AZ — 33.7%
Tucson’s 33.7% share makes it the cheapest major rental market in the Southwest. Apartment List puts its median rent at $1,047 — affordable by Arizona standards and far below Phoenix.
6. Baton Rouge, LA — 32.7%
Louisiana’s capital posts 32.7% of listings under $1,000, a full 10 points clear of the #10 metro.
7. Tulsa, OK — 31.4%
Tulsa’s 31.4% share reflects Oklahoma’s persistently low housing costs — cheap rent paired with a mid-sized-city job market.
8. Akron, OH — 30.7%
Ohio places two metros in the top 10. Akron’s 30.7% under-$1,000 share makes greater Cleveland’s southern neighbor one of the Midwest’s best rental values.
9. Des Moines, IA — 30.3%
Iowa’s capital and insurance-industry hub combines 30.3% sub-$1,000 listings with steady employment — rare air for a state capital.
10. Memphis, TN — 29.8%
Memphis rounds out the list at 29.8%. The Mississippi River metro is the only Tennessee entry, and its rental market runs far cheaper than Nashville’s.
The pattern: Midwest and South dominate
Every metro in the top 10 sits between the coasts — Ohio, Kansas, Arkansas, Texas, Arizona, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Iowa, Tennessee. None of the 10 cheapest is on either coast. Zillow also notes an income-adjusted angle: renters in Austin, Raleigh, and Salt Lake City spend just 18.3% of income on rent, the lowest share nationally — cheap relative to local paychecks, even if sticker prices run higher. Traveling on a budget? Our New Orleans hostels guide shows how far lodging dollars stretch in another affordable Southern city.
FAQs
What is the cheapest city to rent in the U.S. in 2026?
Toledo, Ohio. Zillow’s August 2026 research found 42.6% of Toledo rental listings priced under $1,000/month — the highest share among the 100 largest U.S. metros. Apartment List puts its median rent at $916.
What is the national median rent in 2026?
$1,388 per month as of September 2026, per Apartment List — down 0.1% from August and down 0.4% from a year earlier.
Can you still find apartments under $1,000 a month?
Yes — in the cheapest metros, they’re common. In Toledo, Wichita, and Little Rock, 38% or more of listings are under $1,000. Zillow also found the median rent for a room was under $1,000 in 86 of the 100 largest metros.
Are rents going up or down in 2026?
Both, depending on the measure. Zillow’s index showed 2.3% annual rent growth in July 2026; Apartment List’s September report showed a 0.1% monthly dip with year-over-year declines moderating — signs the market is stabilizing.
Which states have the cheapest rent?
By Zillow’s top-10 list: Ohio (Toledo, Akron), Kansas, Arkansas, Texas, Arizona, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Iowa, and Tennessee. The cheapest markets all sit in the Midwest or South.
Is it cheaper to rent a room or an apartment?
A room, by a wide margin. Zillow data shows renting a room often costs less than half an apartment — e.g., $950 for a room vs. $2,014 for an apartment in Chicago (October 2025 data).
Should I move to a cheaper city just for rent?
Rent is only one input. Zillow recommends weighing the job market, cost of living, transportation, and quality of life — a cheap-rent city with no jobs or high taxes can cost more overall.
What does ‘income-adjusted affordability’ mean?
It’s rent relative to local pay. Austin, Raleigh, and Salt Lake City tie for best in the nation: renters there spend only 18.3% of income on rent, versus 26.6% for the typical U.S. renter.
