Apartment Renting

Phoenix's favorable financial situation benefits everything from apartment rentals to utilities to taxes. Phoenix's overall cost of living is 13% below the national average, and Arizona's personal income tax structure is among the lowest in the nation, ranging from 3.3-5%. There is a huge selection of apartments for rent, and they tend to be affordable. One factor to keep in mind is that unlike in most big cities, rents outside Phoenix tend to be higher than those inside the city limits. Average rent for apartments in the city is $650, while in Tempe it's $725 and in Scottsdale it's $840. There are some exceptions, as in the suburb of Glendale, where apartments for rent are going for an average of $635 per month. the median monthly price for apartment rentals in Tucson was $544, with average one-bedroom apartments for rent going for $535 and average three-bedroom apartments going for almost $1,000.

Denver's overall cost of living is 35% above the national average, so it's not the cheapest place to live. However, affordable apartment rentals are available, with the median price for all apartments at $700 per month. The full range encompasses basic studio apartments starting in the $400-500 range up to luxurious apartment rentals topping $2,000. How's that for variety?

Miami! It's the "Magic City," home of sophisticated nightlife, luxurious homes and apartments, fabulous restaurants and, of course, miles and miles of beaches. Although Miami is well over 100 years old, it has the fresh aura of a perpetually modern city. Want to live the good life on Miami Beach? Believe it or not, you can find small apartments for rent starting in the $500-600 range. But to live it up in style, expect to pay $1,500 or more for appropriately fabulous apartment rentals.

Jacksonville ("Jax" to locals) is the most important city in northern Florida, with its busy seaport and extensive financial and insurance industries. The 14th largest city in the country with a population of more than 800,000 residents, Jacksonville has one of the lowest overall costs of living in Florida and the U.S. The average cost of living is nearly 9% below the national average, with apartments being especially affordable. Need more convincing? Money Magazine has called it one of the top ten best places to live.

Orlando! One of the world's premiere travel destinations, Orlando hosts more than 35 million tourists every year, who flock to this Southern city to take advantage of the 95 theme parks and attractions. But what is it like for the people who live here year-round? While they enjoy the splashy destinations their city has to offer, locals are more likely to enjoy the less touristy attractions like the downtown farmer's market every Saturday, Orlando Philharmonic concerts or pro basketball team Orlando Magic playing at the TD Waterhouse Centre. Hundreds of apartments are sprinkled throughout Downtown Orlando, near to all the action. Rents are surprisingly affordable, considering all there is to do in the area, with small apartment rentals starting in the $400-500 range and snazzy townhouses and sophisticated downtown lofts going for well over $2,000.

Tampa and St. Petersburg enjoy an overall cost of living that is slightly lower than the national average, which comes in handy when looking for affordable apartments for rent. In Tampa, the median price for apartments is $615, with average two-bedroom apartments going for $685 per month. St. Petersburg prices are slightly lower; you can expect to pay a median price of $600 for apartment rentals, with the average cost of all apartments running at $625 per month.

Broward County and Palm Beach County. Want to live the good life near the beach? Believe it or not, you can find small apartments for rent starting in the $500-600 range in these desirable cities. But to live it up in style, expect to pay $1,500 or more for appropriately fabulous apartment rentals. The median price for apartments in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach the median for apartments for rent is $600. The overall cost of living in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach is slightly below the national average, so your money will generally go further here than in most of the rest of the country.

Atlanta, the largest city in the state, is often considered the capital of the South. With a population of 416,000 and rising, the city's growth is matched by rapid economic expansion. "Hotlanta" houses the headquarters of some of the largest and best-known companies in the nation, including Coca-Cola, United Parcel Service, Georgia-Pacific Corporation, Turner Broadcasting System and Delta Air Lines. Tall buildings and busy streets are to be found at Five Points, the city's historic business center. Away from the hustle and bustle, you can still find charming neighborhoods (some even with apartments available), tree-shaded streets and friendly communities. Average apartment rentals cost $931 with utilities at $93, putting it on par with apartments for rent in cities like Philadelphia and Los Angeles.

Indianapolis is not only Indiana's largest city; it's actually the 12th largest city in the United States, with a population of more than 80,000. It's been ranked eighth in a list of "America's Best Places to Live & Work," based on its economic growth, urban renewal and community focus. The downtown area is an exciting destination with its enormous sports stadiums, museums, shopping, restaurants and nightlife. Another draw is the Indianapolis 500 race, held every Memorial Day. Living costs in Indianapolis are consistently near or below the national average, with the cost of apartment rentals more than 8% lower than the national average.

Las Vegas Apartments With a population of more than half a million, Las Vegas is the state's largest city and one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the United States. Vegas is famous (or infamous, depending on your point of view) for gaming, quickie weddings and almost-as-quickie divorces. But there.s a lot more to this eclectic city. Although tourism in the "Entertainment Capital of the World" is the most important source of income by far, the city is also booming in manufacturing and industrial employment, the construction of new houses and apartments, and in new service jobs. Newcomers don.t usually have a difficult time in finding employment and affordable apartments. The overall cost of living is 20% below the national average, and there are apartment rentals to suit various interests and budgets. A recent survey found the following average prices for Las Vegas apartments for rent: studio apartments go for an average of $450, one-bedrooms for $575, two-bedrooms for $715 and two-bedrooms for $885. Although it should be noted that with Vegas's quickly expanding population, rent prices can change quickly.

Raleigh-Durham Apartments. As the state capital and second largest city, Raleigh offers a very livable blend of urban amenities and Southern charm. They call it "City Life, Carolina Style," and they prove it with trendy restaurants and cutting-edge culture tempered with good old-fashioned Southern manners. Raleigh is a hub for politics, culture, trade and industry; it produces products including electronics, health care, apparel, food products, paper products and pharmaceuticals. Along with Chapel Hill and Durham, Raleigh is part of North Carolina's Research Triangle, utilizing the scientific talent of the three cities' universities. Residents enjoy the many libraries, museums, the opera, professional hockey team, an arboretum and several 18th-century houses, including the birthplace of President Andrew Johnson. The cost of living here is 7% below the national average, and you'll pay around $775 for average apartment rentals.

Memphis Apartments "Birthplace of the Blues," Memphis is the state's largest city with 650,000 residents who are proud of the city's reputation as a musical haven. Memphis is famous for nurturing some of the best country, classical, rock and hip-hop music in the country. The hottest music scene can be found downtown on Beale Street. And then, of course, there's the King. Graceland Mansion, home of Elvis Presley, is open for tours and musical inspiration. In addition to the culture rich with music, Memphis offers a comfortable year-round climate, small-town feel, plenty of Southern hospitality and an affordable cost of living. Rental property is abundant and the prices are low. Some of the more popular areas to consider for apartment rentals are Germantown, Bartlett, Lakeland, Vollintine-Evergreen, Central Gardens, Collierville, Cooper-Young and Downtown. The average price for apartments is $477 per month, with a median of $570.

Nashville calls itself "Music City." Travel & Leisure Magazine calls it "America's Friendliest City." Both names are good indicators of what to expect in the capital and second-largest city of Tennessee. Throughout this welcoming community, you can find music to suit any taste—as well as a variety of apartments for rent to suit any taste as well. Blues, rock, country, gospel, jazz, contemporary Christian and other genres are all represented by the throngs of songwriters who come here by the thousands to listen, perform and try to make it in the notoriously tough business. Nashville is also a comfortable city to live in, with a pleasant climate that rarely gets too hot or too cold. Finances are comfortable too, with the overall cost of living at only 94% of the national average, and apartment rentals going for a median rent of $620 per month.

The city of Houston, covering nearly 9.000 square miles and home to more than 2 million people, is a perfect microcosm of the things that make Texas great. With its signature blend of big-city diversity and down-home Texas hospitality, Houston is cosmopolitan and full of charm at the same time. A thriving economy, flourishing downtown and green parks combine with a mild year-round climate to make this one of the best places to live in the nation. Need more proof? The cost of living is lower than any other large metro in the country, and there are plenty of apartment rentals to choose from, most of which are reasonably priced. Look for the nicest housing options in the affluent neighborhoods in the west and southwest areas of town. Lower-income neighborhoods with more affordable apartments for rent can be found to the south and southeast of downtown. The average rent for apartments is $715 per month, with utilities averaging $105.

Dallas Apartments. The second-largest city in Texas with about 1.2 million residents, Dallas prides itself as being a cultural and educational center. Institutions of higher learning include Southern Methodist University, Paul Quinn College, the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas Baptist University, Dallas Christian College, Dallas Theological Seminary and the University of Texas at Dallas. Also of special note are the architecture of the downtown area and the West End Historic District, a collection of 19th-century warehouses converted into eclectic shops and restaurants. Dallas is famous for its pro sports teams, including the Dallas Cowboys pro football team, the Mavericks pro basketball team, Stars pro hockey team and Rangers baseball team. It is also famous for fans who are devoted to their teams and their successes each season. Within the city itself and in the greater metropolitan area, expect to pay an average of $750 for apartment rentals and about $100 for monthly utilities.

Austin Apartments. Truly a city on the rise, the state capital's population has been growing in recent decades thanks to the growth of high-tech industry, including computer technology and research organizations. Austin is also famous for its music scene, which has earned the city the nickname .The Live Music Capital of the World." The annual South by Southwest music festival introduces music lovers to hundreds of new bands of every musical genre, and the long-running PBS series Austin City Limits continues to be the most popular music show in town. The combination of high-tech companies, cutting-edge music and the city's importance as the center of Texan government gives Austin a young and trendy atmosphere that attracts thousands of newcomers every year. Apartments for rent run at an average monthly cost of $750, with utilities averaging $90 per month.

San Antonio Apartments. The overall cost of living here is a whopping 24% below the national average, with houses and apartments approximately 30% below the national average! In fact, the median price for apartments is $550, and that figure takes into account the many luxury apartment rentals available. It's not hard to find comfortable, decent apartments at a great price. One-bedroom, one-bath apartments range from $400-850; two-bedroom, two-bath apartments go for $525-$1,200; and three-bedroom, two-bath apartment rentals cost $750-$1,800 per month.

Richmond Apartments. As capital of Virginia and an area of great American history, the city of Richmond is home to nearly 200,000 residents, who enjoy the city's unique blend of culture sophistication and Southern charm. You'll find some of Virginia's most interesting and well-preserved historic sites and neighborhoods here, as well as enough entertainment, sports, culture and natural beauty to make this a great place to live. Major attractions and points of pride include the state capitol (which was designed by Thomas Jefferson and built in 1785), the Washington Monument, St. John's Church (where Patrick Henry uttered "Give me liberty, or give me death") and the Edgar Allan Poe Shrine (the city's oldest structure, built in 1686). A wide variety of housing types are available, including downtown apartments in renovated warehouses, historic townhouses, golf courses and waterfront communities, and farms. Overall, housing costs are about 5% below the national average, and the median price for apartment rentals is $615 per month.