Here's What $800 in Rent Looks Like in 12 Top U.S. Cities
Spoiler alert: it looks very, very small in Manhattan. Grab your glasses, you'll need to squint.
![The Hawthorne Bridge crosses the Wilamette River and into the Pearl District, Portland's downtown core.](http://travel.home.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/travel/stock/2016/8/22/0/iStock_53905992_LARGE_Rosenberg_Haunted_Weekend_Portland_06.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1491594364774.webp)
halbergman
![](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/editorial/profiles/editors/Maria-Conti/MariaConti.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.91.91.85.suffix/1590612965020.webp)
Paying rent each month is the new norm for many Americans, myself included. But the question is: how much is everyone paying and what does that cost look like?
Suddenly feeling super curious about the cost of living outside your current zip code? You're in luck. I put my curiosity (read: nosiness) to action and threw myself into rental research to uncover what one person is able to call home with a budget of $800 each month. Fun fact: I quickly uncovered that in these U.S. cities with this budget, you’ll need a roommate to keep a roof over your head at all.
Atlanta, GA
![Neutral Loft Apartment Living Area Living Area in Neutral Loft Apartment](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2016/9/9/0/Wake-and-Loom_Atlanta-Beltline-Loft_3.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1473440495867.webp)
Studio Jaki Photography
It’s crucial to pair up in this peach-loving city, pals. That said, it will be more than worth it. Atlanta renters can snag a sleek, contemporary 2 BD/2 BA apartment for around $1,600, or $800 per person. Bonus: this rental in ATL often comes packed with luxe finishes throughout the ~1,000 square-foot unit.
Austin, TX
![Tana-Nesbitt_Park-Slope_Dining-Wide Park Slope Apartment with Bright White Living Room](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/golden-hgtv/fullset/2015/1/12/0/Tana-Nesbitt_Park-Slope_Dining-Wide.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1711015318826.webp)
Tana Nesbitt
Spend $800 in this artsy, edgy Texas city and you can live comfortably in a newly-renovated 400 square-foot, 1 BD/1BA apartment. I spotted a unit at this price that included a parking space, laundry on site and a walk-in closet. Talk about a steal, y’all.
Charlotte, NC
![Urban Living Area Features Stylish Furnishings White Living Area With Black Brick Accent Wall and Purple Sofa](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2015/6/30/0/Justin-DiPiero_City-Digs_7.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.924.85.suffix/1435686793920.webp)
Claire Esparros for Homepolish
Live like a queen in the Queen City! I’m fortunate enough to call Charlotte my home and for $725 a month, someone else could too! CLT renters can snag a sweet spot in the sought-after Elizabeth neighborhood in a charming, cozy 1 BD/ 1 BA, 750 square-foot apartment that boasts totally unique, Craftsman details throughout.
Denver, CO
![Cozy Studio Bed with Luxurious Fabrics Bed nook in studio apartment](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2013/6/27/11/CI-jarret-yoshida-tiny-studio-bed_s4x3.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.462.85.suffix/1400979397370.webp)
Prepare for some sticker shock, Southerners. Our renting friends out West can't do much with an $800 budget. After digging around the web, I spotted a 386 square-foot apartment for $895 per month. Unfortunately, that was a steal as most Denver studios started at or above $1,300 each month.
Fayetteville, AR
![Curb Appeal front yard landscaping](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/grdn/fullset/2013/7/29/0/Original_original-ben-rollins-front-streetview-house.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.462.85.suffix/1452655548803.webp)
Image courtesy of Ben Rollins
We should all pick up and move to Arkansas, friends. For a measly $900 a month, Fayetteville renters can play house in a 1,300 square-foot, 3 BD/2 BA home with a lovely, lush lawn out front. Divvy that rent between 2-3 people and we’re looking at record-breaking rent prices over here, right?
Los Angeles, CA
![Pint-Sized Apartment Kitchen Black and White Kitchen With Storage Rack & Ice Decal](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2015/1/8/0/LABL-Studio_West-Village-Bachelor-Pad_Kitchen.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.770.85.suffix/1420753687060.webp)
MATTHEW WILLIAMS
Apparently, living like an angel doesn’t come cheap. If your budget is $800 in L.A., you’ll need to find a roommate ASAP. You’ll be splitting $1600 each month for a bare-bones, 1 BD/1 BA studio apartment. Did I mention that it’s street parking only?
Nashville, TN
![The music room of the Parsons Ozan house after renovations, as seen on Listed Sisters.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2017/7/12/1/BP_HLSIS201H_music-room_detail_Nashville-wall-art_273025_1012068-1553349.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.462.85.suffix/1499945961591.webp)
Two roomies can spend $750 a month to live in an expansive and adorable 1,400 square-foot brick bungalow near the heart of downtown Nashville. The space I spotted came with 4 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, a yard and private parking. Find a roommate for all four bedrooms and we’re talking $375 a month!
New Orleans, LA
![H1BERN102H New Orleans Reno Exterior shot of Suzanna's newly renovated shotgun style house, as seen on New Orleans Reno](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2016/12/8/0/H1BERN102H_Front-Exterior_247825_897418.1440159.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.462.85.suffix/1481247832073.webp)
Living large in the Big Easy is easy to do, y’all. For $850, NOLA renters can set up shop in a historic, 925 square-foot duplex apartment. The space I spotted comes complete with crown molding, original fireplace, a claw foot tub and endless character. Live there on your own or enlist a roommate for super-low pay.
New York City, NY
![Ori Systems Robotic Modular Furniture HGTV shows you the new Ori Systems modular, robotic furniture](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2017/8/14/1/CI-ORI-System-Living%20area.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.308.85.suffix/1502737898034.webp)
Photos courtesy Ori Systems
If you’ve got $737 to spare, you can lock down a 373 square-foot studio in Manhattan. So, good news and bad news. The bad? You’re paying almost eight hundred bucks each month to live in a shoe box. The silver lining? Your shoe box is in Manhattan and it comes equipped with a bathroom.
Oklahoma City, OK
![Small Living Room With Bench Coffee Table Small Urban Living Room](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgrm/fullset/2013/2/27/0/CI-Michael-Mohr-small-urban-apartment_s3x4.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.822.85.suffix/1405377070456.webp)
OKC is the place to be! With our $800 budget, renters can secure super-cool spots throughout the city. I found a spacious, 1,100 square-foot, 2 BD / 1 BA unit in a handsome, brick duplex apartment building. It featured an expansive kitchen, a fireplace and a huge, covered balcony for entertaining.
Seattle, WA
![Texture Highlighted in Guest Bedroom Design Guest Bedroom Design with Tons of Texture](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2017/5/10/0/IO_Sandie-Tsai_Living-Large-Small-Space_2.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1494432845646.webp)
Morgan Blake Beatton
Rent rates for 500 square-foot studios near the Space Needle begin anywhere between $990-$1,500, on average. For the budget we’re playing with, Seattle renters will need to be sure they like their roommate — a lot. They’ll become really close, whether they like it or not.
Washington, D.C.
![Contemporary Kitchen With Steel Backsplash Contemporary Kitchen With Steel Backsplash](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2016/12/15/0/Lauren-Rubin-Architecture_Wall-St-Loft_3.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.347.85.suffix/1481825419410.webp)
Alyssa Kirsten
A simple, 640 square-foot, 1 BA studio apartment in our nation’s capital will run renters around $1,600 per month. At the risk of sounding repetitive, yes, you’ll need a roommate. Something to keep in mind, though? Your shared studio will include one bathroom. And really, who needs personal space with all those beautiful, blooming cherry blossoms during spring?