Looking to buy or rent a home? Much depends on your budget and where you want to live. Costs vary by area, of course, so be realistic when it comes to your search. We did some legwork for you and compiled a list of U.S. cities that offer affordable, as well as expensive, options.
Average Apartment Rent
According to the New York Times, rent is typically considered affordable if it’s no more than 30% of your household income. That may seem unrealistic for many large cities you may like; but not to worry, these 10 major cities have the least expensive rent prices in the country – all falling below the national average of $1,231 per month.
10 Cheapest U.S. Cities to Rent
| City | Average Rent |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $543 |
| Columbus, OH | $677 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $675 |
| Kansas City, MO | $701 |
| Fort Worth, TX | $718 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $710 |
| Denver, CO | $887 |
| Greenville, SC | $630 |
| Houston, TX | $710 |
| Dallas, TX | $814 |
Now for the more expensive end. ApartmentList.com compared median rental prices in 50 of the most populated American cities. The results show these cities are the most costly for renters – with rates at least 36% above the national average.
10 Most Expensive U.S. Cities to Rent
| City | Average Rent |
| San Francisco, CA | $3,396 |
| New York, NY | $3,344 |
| Boston, MA | $3,190 |
| Washington D.C. | $2,699 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $2,177 |
| San Jose, CA | $2,165 |
| Oakland, CA | $1,812 |
| Miami, FL | $1,742 |
| Seattle, WA | $1,718 |
| San Diego, CA | $1,670 |
Average House Price
A report by Coldwell Bank found the national average listing price of a 4-bedroom, 2-bath house in 2013 was $301,414. Here are the cities with the most affordable options:
10 Cheapest U.S. Cities to Buy
| City | Average Price |
| Cleveland, OH | $63,729 |
| Garfield Heights, OH | $66,075 |
| Flint, MI | $84, 437 |
| Saginaw, MI | $87,181 |
| Jackson, MS | $94,155 |
| Sioux City, IA | $97, 969 |
| Jonesboro, GA | $98,332 |
| Moberly, MO | $99,593 |
| Buffalo, NY | $101,631 |
| Kankakee, IL | $103,187 |
If you have a bigger budget, you may be able to find a home in one of these areas:
10 Most Expensive U.S. Cities to Buy
| City | Average Price |
| Malibu, CA | $2,155,900 |
| Newport Beach, CA | $1,773,824 |
| Saratoga, CA | $1,684,261 |
| Los Gatos, CA | $1,360,497 |
| San Francisco, CA | $1,309,599 |
| Stone Harbor, NJ | $1,301,727 |
| Cupertino, CA | $1,292,400 |
| Orono, MN | $1,251,873 |
| Weston, MA | $1,229,000 |
| Redwood City, CA | $1,132,523 |
No matter what your budget, there may be a home for you. Still unsure if you should rent or buy? Use this rent vs. buy calculator to compare costs.