Rent now takes nearly a third of income in the least affordable U.S. cities

Renters in the least affordable U.S. cities now spend up to 34% of their income on housing, nearly double the burden in the most affordable cities where rent takes as little as 15% of monthly earnings. This disparity defines the growing financial divide in American housing markets. A WalletHub report analyzing 182 cities found that affordability hinges not on dollar amounts but on the rent-to-income ratio — a measure of how much of a resident’s paycheck goes toward shelter. In cities like Birmingham, Alabama; Pembroke Pines and Orlando, Florida; Glendale, California; and Newark, New Jersey, rent consumes the largest share of income, placing sustained pressure on household budgets. These cities now represent the extreme end of an affordability crisis fueled by rent increases outpacing wage growth over the past decade. Atlanta, Georgia ranks 103rd, with renters paying 23.97% of their income toward rent. The average monthly rent in Atlanta is $2,000, according to Zillow Rentals — a figure down slightly from late 2025 but still above early 2025 levels year over year. In the most affordable cities, including Bismarck, North Dakota; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, residents spend less than one-fifth of their income on rent, freeing up funds for savings, debt reduction, or homeownership down payments. The gap between these markets reveals not just geographic variation but a structural imbalance in how income and housing costs align across the country. Renters in the least affordable cities spend nearly twice as much of their income on rent compared to those in the most affordable cities.