Given that we’re the wealthiest city in the world, it should come as no surprise that the average rent in NYC is anything but average.
After crunching numbers, Apartments.com has decided to share its findings on the rental market in our beloved metropolis. Not that we’re one for spoilers, but we’ll tell you this: those statistics are pretty pricey.
Average rent in NYC: a breakdown
Are your calculators ready? Per the site’s trends report, NYC rent averages at $3,927 per month, whereas the rest of the U.S. averages at $1,576. That makes for a $2,351 difference, which could be rent in it of itself. Curious what that looks like in terms of layout and square footage? Here’s the breakdown:
- Studio: $3,179/month, 442 Sq Ft
- One Bedroom: $3,927/month, 598 Sq Ft
- Two Bedroom: $5,314/month, 795 Sq Ft
- Three Bedroom: $6,601/month, 991 Sq Ft
An Apartments.com source tells Secret NYC that most landlords are looking for tenants that spend no more than 30% of their gross income on rent, and using the site’s rent calculator can assist when deciding on spendings, square footage, and neighborhood.
The trends report further indicates that the Lower East Side is the most affordable neighborhood clocking in at $4,639 per month and 478 square feet, followed by Murray Hill and Yorkville. (Psst: check out this Lower East Side affordable housing lottery if you have your heart set on the area.)
Rent for NYC as a whole has trended up 1% YoY for 2025 — and the first quarter grew 2.2% for New York YoY with an average price per square foot of $4.03 — meaning that some of us might be curious what’s trending below average. The following nabes are under the city’s average with at least 15 units available:
- Hamilton Heights: $2,381
- Upper Manhattan: $2,543
- Fort George: $2,560
- Washington Heights: $2,590
- Hudson Heights: $2,699
- Northern Manhattan: $2,995
- Central Harlem: $3,089
- Harlem: $3,149
If those numbers feel daunting, rest assured we have a few suggestions, including taking our expert-backed advice for landing a housing lottery or looking into the HomeFirst Down Payment Assistance Program, which provides first-time homebuyers $100,000 toward their first home. And if all else fails, there’s always Jersey!