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In April 2026, apartment rents recorded an annual growth in more than half of U.S. states. The national average rent declined by about **** percent. North Dakota was the state with the largest rental increase at **** percent, while the District of Columbia measured the largest decline at **** percent. California, one of the most expensive states to rent an apartment, saw an increase of about **** percent from the previous year.

How much should you earn to afford to rent an apartment in different states in the U.S.?

Both employment opportunities and living costs vary widely across the country. In California, which is among the most competitive housing markets in the U.S., the hourly wage needed to afford a two-bedroom apartment rental was roughly ** U.S. dollars, about twice higher than in North Carolina, Louisiana, or Michigan in 2025. When it comes to the median household income, on the other hand, California does not even make it in the top ten states.

How much should you earn to afford a home in some of U.S. largest metros?

In 2025, the annual salary needed to buy a median-priced home in the U.S. was ** U.S. dollars. However, in some of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States, where housing prices are up to two or three times higher, homebuyers would have to earn considerably more than ** U.S. dollars to afford a home. In San Jose, which was the most expensive metro, the annual salary needed for a median-priced home was approximately ** U.S. dollars.