Housing comparison workspace

Compare City Rent and Housing Costs

Choose two cities to compare median gross rent, the income associated with a 30% rent target, household income, home values and ownership. The tool covers housing decisions, not every living expense.

Quick answer

How to compare rental costs by city

Select one of the 10 reviewed city pairs below. Each comparison puts Census median gross rent, a consistent 30% rent-to-income benchmark, household income, median owner-occupied home value and ownership share side by side.

The rent measure is a survey median that includes tenant-paid utilities where applicable, not a live average asking rent.

City comparison tool

Choose two published cities

Compare housing costs using the same 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year definitions and calculations.

Only reviewed comparison routes are available.

Reviewed routes

Start with a common relocation comparison

  1. Austin, TX vs Dallas, TXDallas has $257 lower reported rent
  2. Austin, TX vs San Antonio, TXSan Antonio has $405 lower reported rent
  3. Dallas, TX vs Fort Worth, TXDallas has $37 lower reported rent
  4. Los Angeles, CA vs San Diego, CALos Angeles has $380 lower reported rent
  5. San Jose, CA vs San Francisco, CASan Francisco has $193 lower reported rent
  6. New York, NY vs Philadelphia, PAPhiladelphia has $424 lower reported rent
  7. Miami, FL vs Tampa, FLTampa has $57 lower reported rent
  8. Raleigh, NC vs Charlotte, NCRaleigh has $40 lower reported rent
  9. Houston, TX vs Dallas, TXHouston has $111 lower reported rent
  10. Jacksonville, FL vs Tampa, FLJacksonville has $236 lower reported rent

Included

A consistent housing baseline

Every route uses the same 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year source and definitions, so the rent, income, home-value and ownership figures can be read side by side.

Not included

Not a full cost-of-living index

Food, transportation, taxes, health care, mortgage quotes and live rental listings are outside the current scope. Use the results as a housing research baseline.

City rental comparison questions

How can I compare rental costs by city?

Choose a reviewed pair above to compare Census median gross rent, the annual income associated with a 30% rent benchmark, median household income, median owner-occupied home value and ownership share side by side.

Does this tool compare average rent between cities?

No. It compares Census median gross rent, not live average asking rent. Gross rent includes contract rent plus estimated tenant-paid utilities where applicable.

Does this tool compare total cost of living?

No. It compares housing, household income and ownership measures. Food, transportation, taxes, health care and live listings are outside the current scope.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates. Review the definitions and limitations.