What size apartment can you get for $1,500 a month in Tri-Cities compared to big cities?
No matter what day of the month your rent is due, chances are it causes dread. Nobody enjoys shelling out a substantial amount of their wages to a landlord, and with average rent prices increasing steadily, the resentment only grows.
But do you ever wonder how much your monthly rent is worth in other cities?
People often compare the prices of homes of the same size in Manhattan versus Texas, or similar examples. But if you’re not looking to buy, do the same standards apply? Where can renters get the best bang for their buck?
A recent RentCafe analysis of Yardi Matrix data looked at the average apartment size you can get for $1,500 a month in various big cities across the country. Here’s how those numbers compare to local rates.
Average apartment size for $1,500
When looking at apartments across the country, $1,500 gets an average of 729 square feet, according to RentCafe. Data analyzed came from RentCafe’s sister company, Yardi Matrix, which offers comprehensive real estate intelligence in markets across the United States.
However, the average varies greatly from city to city. Manhattan’s average is less than half of the national average at only 228 square feet, while Wichita’s nearly twice the national average at 1,359.
Certain areas have specific trends, like many of the larger averages lie in the south and Midwest areas. The majority of the smaller averages were in California.
Here’s how much space you’ll get for $1,500 a month in these big cities:
- Boston: 315 square feet
- Los Angeles: 439 square feet
- Seattle: 456 square feet
- Portland: 657 square feet
- Nashville: 750 square feet
- Orlando: 754 square feet
- Dallas: 815 square feet
- Las Vegas: 914 square feet
Average apartment size in Tri-Cities area
How does that compare to hometown averages? RentCafe provided the Herald with additional data for averages in the region.
In Tri-Cities, the size is pretty similar no matter which city you’re in. Richland has the smallest average at 883, followed by Kennewick at 925 square feet. Pasco has the largest average at 949 square feet.
Yakima has a greater average than anywhere in Tri-Cities, with 1,122 square feet.
Looking at the biggest city on the east side of Washington, Spokane is sandwiched between Kennewick and Pasco at 942 square feet.
Both of the nearby college towns, Cheney and Pullman, have greater averages with 1,050 and 974 square feet, respectively.
Average rentals in Tri-Cities
But rent in Tri-Cities, or anywhere, isn’t limited to $1,500. How much are people paying, and are they getting more or less square footage?
The average rent in Tri-Cities is $1,370 per month, according to the most recent quarterly report for TMG Property Management through CoStar Group. The national average is above $1,500, at $1,690.
According to RentCafe data, the average apartment size in Richland is 887 square feet, compared to 882 in Kennewick and 850 in Pasco. It follows that the average apartment size is smaller when the price is under $1,500.