In which cities do you get most space for $1.5K rent?

  • Wichita, Kansas, offered the most space on average
  • 2 New York boroughs sat at the bottom of the list
  • America's largest 200 cities were compiled in the report
A helicopter flies past the Empire State Building as the sun sets in New York City on July 20, 2025, as seen from Weehawken, New Jersey.

A helicopter flies past the Empire State Building as the sun sets in New York City on July 20, 2025, as seen from Weehawken, New Jersey.

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(NewsNation) — The Midwest and Sun Belt cities offer the most bang for your buck when putting down $1,500 on an apartment every month, according to a new report.

RentCafe analyzed data from the nation’s 200 largest cities to see how much space one could acquire with a budget of $1,500 per month by calculating the average price per square foot and the average apartment size of at least 50 units.

Wichita, Kansas, topped the list with 1,329 square feet, but those looking in New York’s Manhattan and Brooklyn, as well as Boston, would be troubled to find studios for that price.

Among the 200 cities, renters can acquire an apartment with 715 square feet on average for the $1,500 price point.

Toledo, Ohio, ranked second, followed by Lubbock, Texas; Memphis, Tennessee; with San Antonio, Texas rounding out the top five.

Manhattan offers the least space for $1,500 per month: only 216 square feet. Brooklyn trails behind with 300 square feet. Boston is not much bigger, with an average of 311 square feet.

West Coast renters don’t fare much better in the big cities, with San Francisco averaging a space of 325 square feet and Los Angeles at 426.

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