Most Affordable States for Renters (2026)
States ranked by true affordability, considering both rent prices AND cost of living. Find where your money goes furthest.
#1 Most Affordable: Mississippi
Median: Pennsylvania
Least Affordable: Massachusetts
How We Calculate Affordability
Our affordability ranking combines average 2-bedroom rent with each state's cost of living index. This gives a more accurate picture of where your money goes furthest, since a state with $1,000/mo rent but 80 COL index is more affordable than $1,000/mo rent with 120 COL index. The formula:Affordability Score = Rent x (COL Index / 100)
Mississippi
Most Affordable
$1,140/mo + 84 COL
6
No Income Tax States
100
National COL Average
Massachusetts
Least Affordable
$2,941/mo + 131 COL
Complete Affordability Ranking
Sorted by affordability score (rent adjusted for cost of living)
| Rank | State | 2BR Rent | COL Index | Housing Index | Affordability Score | No Income Tax | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
#1 | Mississippi | $1,140 | 84 | 68 | 958 | - | View → |
#2 | Kansas | $1,080 | 89 | 75 | 961 | - | View → |
#3 | Arkansas | $1,200 | 87 | 73 | 1,044 | - | View → |
#4 | North Dakota | $1,140 | 93 | 85 | 1,060 | - | View → |
#5 | Iowa | $1,200 | 90 | 78 | 1,080 | - | View → |
#6 | Oklahoma | $1,244 | 87 | 72 | 1,082 | - | View → |
#7 | South Dakota | $1,200 | 92 | 85 | 1,104 | Yes | View → |
#8 | Alabama | $1,266 | 89 | 75 | 1,127 | - | View → |
#9 | Ohio | $1,268 | 90 | 75 | 1,141 | - | View → |
#10 | Missouri | $1,288 | 89 | 76 | 1,146 | - | View → |
#11 | Nebraska | $1,260 | 92 | 82 | 1,159 | - | View → |
#12 | Indiana | $1,277 | 91 | 80 | 1,162 | - | View → |
#13 | Kentucky | $1,296 | 90 | 78 | 1,166 | - | View → |
#14 | Louisiana | $1,284 | 92 | 82 | 1,181 | - | View → |
#15 | Texas | $1,366 | 93 | 88 | 1,270 | Yes | View → |
#16 | Wisconsin | $1,366 | 93 | 85 | 1,270 | - | View → |
#17 | Michigan | $1,403 | 91 | 78 | 1,277 | - | View → |
#18 | Tennessee | $1,481 | 91 | 85 | 1,348 | Yes | View → |
#19 | Georgia | $1,460 | 94 | 88 | 1,372 | - | View → |
#20 | North Carolina | $1,476 | 96 | 90 | 1,417 | - | View → |
#21 | Pennsylvania | $1,555 | 96 | 90 | 1,493 | - | View → |
#22 | South Carolina | $1,640 | 93 | 85 | 1,525 | - | View → |
#23 | Idaho | $1,620 | 97 | 105 | 1,571 | - | View → |
#24 | Arizona | $1,580 | 103 | 105 | 1,627 | - | View → |
#25 | Minnesota | $1,709 | 99 | 98 | 1,692 | - | View → |
#26 | Illinois | $1,781 | 95 | 85 | 1,692 | - | View → |
#27 | Utah | $1,684 | 101 | 110 | 1,701 | - | View → |
#28 | Virginia | $1,684 | 103 | 108 | 1,735 | - | View → |
#29 | Nevada | $1,735 | 103 | 110 | 1,787 | Yes | View → |
#30 | Rhode Island | $1,729 | 111 | 120 | 1,919 | - | View → |
#31 | Florida | $1,938 | 102 | 105 | 1,977 | Yes | View → |
#32 | Oregon | $1,771 | 113 | 130 | 2,001 | - | View → |
#33 | Colorado | $1,915 | 105 | 115 | 2,011 | - | View → |
#34 | Connecticut | $1,865 | 113 | 115 | 2,107 | - | View → |
#35 | Washington | $1,971 | 110 | 125 | 2,168 | Yes | View → |
#36 | Maryland | $1,857 | 118 | 135 | 2,191 | - | View → |
#37 | New York | $1,918 | 139 | 185 | 2,666 | - | View → |
#38 | California | $2,333 | 142 | 192 | 3,313 | - | View → |
#39 | District of Columbia | $2,246 | 148 | 195 | 3,324 | - | View → |
#40 | Massachusetts | $2,941 | 131 | 165 | 3,853 | - | View → |
States with No Income Tax
These 6 states have no state income tax, which can significantly improve your overall affordability, especially for higher earners.
Top 10 Most Affordable States
10 Least Affordable States
$2,941/mo
COL: 131
$2,246/mo
COL: 148
#38California
$2,333/mo
COL: 142
#37New York
$1,918/mo
COL: 139
#36Maryland
$1,857/mo
COL: 118
#35Washington
$1,971/mo
COL: 110
#34Connecticut
$1,865/mo
COL: 113
#33Colorado
$1,915/mo
COL: 105
#32Oregon
$1,771/mo
COL: 113
#31Florida
$1,938/mo
COL: 102
Beyond Rent: What Affects Affordability
Housing Costs
- • Monthly rent prices
- • Utilities (electricity, gas, water)
- • Renters insurance
- • Parking fees
- • Move-in costs (deposits, fees)
Daily Living Costs
- • Groceries and food
- • Transportation (car, gas, transit)
- • Healthcare costs
- • Entertainment
- • Childcare (if applicable)
Income Factors
- • State income tax (or lack thereof)
- • Local job market salaries
- • Career growth opportunities
- • Remote work flexibility
- • Side income potential