As we gear up to enter peak rental season, we looked at 200 U.S. cities with a mission – to find out how much apartment space can renters get on a $1,500 budget?
While Orange County and Inland Empire have become popular destinations for renters who want to make the most out of their budgets, the true hidden gems are actually in North LA county. For the same amount of money ($1,500) renters get 100-200 square feet more of apartment space there.
All the cities in the LA metro area fall below the national average of 782 square feet that could be rented for a monthly budget of $1,500. However, Palmdale gets renters the best bang for their buck, while the city of LA offers the smallest quarters.
Here are more details:
· Renters in Los Angeles proper get the least amount of apartment space for $1,500: 423 square feet – the equivalent to a studio or even a small one-bedroom apartment if you’re lucky. This is one of the smallest living spaces available for this budget nationwide, though it’s still larger than what Manhattan offers at a mere 243 square feet
· However, renters in Los Angeles need to pay a little more to get a livable apartment: the average rent here is a little over $2,800 for a typical apartment of 791 square feet
· Renters choosing the LA Metro Area can get the most bang for their buck in Palmdale, where $1,500 will stretch to as much as 701 square feet of living space – just enough for a 1 or 2-bedroom apartment
· Lancaster and Santa Clarita, also in North LA County, rounding the top three when it comes to space on a budget, with 693 square feet and 598 square feet, respectively, for $1,500
· Orange Cunty – one of the most sought-after locations for renters who are willing to trade the bustling life in Los Angeles for more space – offers between 500 and 600 square feet. Garden Grove is the best bet with 582 square feet, while Irvine offers the least space – 445 square feet.