Money Cities Where You Need to Work the Most Hours to Pay Rent
It’s becoming increasingly difficult for Americans to keep a roof above their head with recent data suggesting that it requires 38.3 hours of work per month for one person to cover rent costs in 2025.
There’s plenty of talk about living costs but the rise of rent is now outpacing wage increases, proving to be a heavy burden on Americans.
An analysis of data from the U.S. Census, Apartment List, the BLS, and the Federal Reserve shows that states such as Vermont, Hawaii, California, and New Jersey have the worst wage-to-rent ratio, meaning that residents of those areas will need to work more hours just to cover simple living expenses.
Key statistics
- On average, 38.3 work hours are needed to cover monthly rent costs in the U.S.
- There was a 5.6% rise in median rent prices between 2022 and 2025.
- Median rent costs increased by 66.6% between 2008 and 2025 from $824 to $1,373.
- Residents of Vermont need to work 60.2 hours per month to meet average monthly rental costs, the highest of any state.
- People living in South Dakota need to work an average of 27.6 hours to meet average monthly rent costs, the lowest of all the states.
- New York is the city where residents need to work the most hours to pay rent, with 90.2 hours of average-wage work required to pay median monthly rent.
How rent has outpaced wage growth in the U.S.
Historically, from 2004 to 2025, rent prices have increased by 3.14% per year on average, while wages have grown at a slightly slower rate (3.12% per year on average). However, between 2021 and 2023, rent prices rose an average of 8.66%, with a peak rent increase of 9.15% from 2022 to 2023.
Median monthly rent costs peaked in 2023 at $1,406 and have since come down to $1,373 as of January 2025. [1] BLS, “Average Hourly and Weekly Earnings of all employees” https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t19.htm [2] Federal Reserve, “Average Hourly Earnings” https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CES0500000003 [3] Apartment List, “Data and Rent Estimates” https://www.apartmentlist.com/research/category/data-rent-estimates
Let’s take a look over the past two decades of rent and wage increases, to see both the correlation and the recent spike.
The chart exposes how significant the increases have been in recent years, with the percentage change in monthly rent increasing by 8.67% from 2020 to 2021, and by 9.15% from 2021 to 2022.
In 2005, there was only a 2.97% increase in rent costs and a 3.45% wage increase that same year. From 2004-2007, wages were growing faster than rent costs, ultimately benefiting American workers.
Though rent prices have started to come down in 2024 (-0.84%) and 2025 (-1.52%), the increase in rent prices over the last five years has outpaced wage growth with rent rising by an average of 4.72%, while wages have grown by an average of 4.07%.
| Year | Average hourly wage | Median monthly rent |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $35.83 | $1,373 |
| 2024 | $34.59 | $1,394 |
| 2023 | $33.72 | $1,406 |
| 2022 | $32.26 | $1,300 |
| 2021 | $30.61 | $1,191 |
| 2020 | $29.36 | $1,096 |
| 2019 | $28.00 | $1,097 |
| 2018 | $27.10 | $1,058 |
| 2017 | $26.31 | $1,012 |
| 2016 | $25.65 | $981 |
| 2015 | $25.01 | $959 |
| 2014 | $24.46 | $934 |
| 2013 | $23.96 | $905 |
| 2012 | $23.47 | $884 |
| 2011 | $23.03 | $871 |
| 2010 | $22.58 | $855 |
| 2009 | $22.17 | $842 |
| 2008 | $21.56 | $824 |
| 2007 | $20.91 | $790 |
| 2006 | $20.31 | $774 |
| 2005 | $19.48 | $744 |
| 2004 | $18.83 | $723 |
Sources [1] BLS, “Average Hourly and Weekly Earnings of all employees” https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t19.htm [2] Federal Reserve, “Average Hourly Earnings” https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CES0500000003 [3] Apartment List, “Data and Rent Estimates” https://www.apartmentlist.com/research/category/data-rent-estimates
Working hours to pay rent over time
In 2025 it will take 38.3 hours of work a month for one person to cover rent costs (approximately an entire week of work), this takes the average hourly rate of $35.85 and average rent of $1,373 into account. [2] Federal Reserve, “Average Hourly Earnings” https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CES0500000003 [3] Apartment List, “Data and Rent Estimates” https://www.apartmentlist.com/research/category/data-rent-estimates
This figure has fluctuated over time but hit a peak of 41.7 hours in 2023 when median monthly rent was $1,406 and average hourly wages were $33.72.
The data from 2022-2024 represents the highest average number of hours needed to pay rent in the past two decades, consistently at over 40 hours during this period. In contrast, the lowest was in 2020, needing 37.3 hours to meet rental expenses.
| Year | Average hourly wage | Median monthly rent | Working hours to pay rent on the average hourly wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $35.83 | $1,373 | 38.3 |
| 2024 | $34.59 | $1,394 | 40.3 |
| 2023 | $33.72 | $1,406 | 41.7 |
| 2022 | $32.26 | $1,300 | 40.3 |
| 2021 | $30.61 | $1,191 | 38.9 |
| 2020 | $29.36 | $1,096 | 37.3 |
| 2019 | $28.00 | $1,097 | 39.2 |
| 2018 | $27.10 | $1,058 | 39.0 |
| 2017 | $26.31 | $1,012 | 38.5 |
| 2016 | $25.65 | $981 | 38.2 |
| 2015 | $25.01 | $959 | 38.3 |
| 2014 | $24.46 | $934 | 38.2 |
| 2013 | $23.96 | $905 | 37.8 |
| 2012 | $23.47 | $884 | 37.7 |
| 2011 | $23.03 | $871 | 37.8 |
| 2010 | $22.58 | $855 | 37.9 |
| 2009 | $22.17 | $842 | 38.0 |
| 2008 | $21.56 | $824 | 38.2 |
| 2007 | $20.91 | $790 | 37.8 |
| 2006 | $20.31 | $774 | 38.1 |
| 2005 | $19.48 | $744 | 38.2 |
| 2004 | $18.83 | $723 | 38.4 |
Sources [1] BLS, “Average Hourly and Weekly Earnings of all employees” https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t19.htm [2] Federal Reserve, “Average Hourly Earnings” https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CES0500000003
Working hours needed to pay rent on the federal minimum wage
For those on the federal minimum wage ($7.25 per hour as of 2025), it takes 189 hours of work to pay the median monthly rent cost in 2025. This is compared to 145 hours in 2005, an increase of 30.3% over this 20-year period.
| Years | Hours in min wage |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 189 |
| 2024 | 192 |
| 2023 | 194 |
| 2022 | 179 |
| 2021 | 164 |
| 2020 | 151 |
| 2019 | 151 |
| 2018 | 146 |
| 2017 | 140 |
| 2016 | 135 |
| 2015 | 132 |
| 2014 | 129 |
| 2013 | 125 |
| 2012 | 122 |
| 2011 | 120 |
| 2010 | 118 |
| 2009 | 116 |
| 2008 | 126 |
| 2007 | 135 |
| 2006 | 150 |
| 2005 | 145 |
| 2004 | 140 |
Sources [4] U.S. Census, “Rent Data” https://data.census.gov/table?q=rent [5] Minimum-Wage.org, “Federal Minimum Wage 2025” https://www.minimum-wage.org/federal
Working hours to pay rent by state
The number of working hours on the average hourly wage differs depending on where you’re located with Vermont, Hawaii, and California topping the list and South Dakota and Arkansas on the other end of the spectrum.
Analyzing the data on rent costs versus average hourly wages reveals significant fluctuations in the number of work hours needed to afford rent across different regions. This discrepancy highlights the variable economic conditions that affect housing affordability depending on the state that you’re based in.
Let’s take a look at the working hours needed to pay rent in different states across the U.S.
Vermont residents need to work 60.2 on the average hourly wage to cover monthly rent
Vermont tops the charts in the U.S. for the highest number of work hours needed to cover rent costs.
Vermont residents must work an average of 60.2 hours a month on an average wage ($34.89 per hour) to cover the median monthly rent of $2,100, that’s 21.9 hours more than the U.S. average.
Vermont isn't alone with its steep increase in rent costs and low hourly earnings—the likes of Hawaii, California, New Jersey, and Maryland all require over 50 hours of work to fulfill rent costs. [3] Apartment List, “Data and Rent Estimates” https://www.apartmentlist.com/research/category/data-rent-estimates [6] BLS, “Total private average hourly earnings and weekly hours and earnings by state” https://www.bls.gov/charts/state-employment-and-unemployment/average-hourly-earnings-and-weekly-hours-and-earnings-by-state.htm [7] Zillow, “Housing Data” https://www.zillow.com/research/data/
Residents of South Dakota need to work 27.6 hours to afford the average rent
In contrast to the current national trend, states like South Dakota, Arkansas, and Alabama offer a notably easier financial load when it comes to rent.
These states require fewer work hours to cover housing costs—27.6 in South Dakota, 31.2 in Arkansas, and 31.4 in Alabama—each below the U.S. average of 38.3 hours
This lower demand for work hours to meet rent payments illustrates a more sustainable rent-to-wage ratio, positioning these states as economically advantageous.
Such affordability might make these locations attractive for those seeking to live well without the intense economic strain experienced in more costly regions. With that said, these states are not too far off what was once the country’s average work hours required to cover rent.
During this study, each state’s median rent costs and average hourly wage as of January 2025 are used to calculate the number of hours needed to cover rent. [3] Apartment List, “Data and Rent Estimates” https://www.apartmentlist.com/research/category/data-rent-estimates [6] BLS, “Total private average hourly earnings and weekly hours and earnings by state” https://www.bls.gov/charts/state-employment-and-unemployment/average-hourly-earnings-and-weekly-hours-and-earnings-by-state.htm [7] Zillow, “Housing Data” https://www.zillow.com/research/data/ Here’s a look at how many hours are needed to cover rent per state:
Sources [3] Apartment List, “Data and Rent Estimates” https://www.apartmentlist.com/research/category/data-rent-estimates [6] BLS, “Total private average hourly earnings and weekly hours and earnings by state” https://www.bls.gov/charts/state-employment-and-unemployment/average-hourly-earnings-and-weekly-hours-and-earnings-by-state.htm [7] Zillow, “Housing Data” https://www.zillow.com/research/data/
Cities where you need to work the most hours to pay rent
Data on the cities that require the most and least hours worked to pay rent was collected from Zillow’s Observed Rent Index (ZORI). [7] Zillow, “Housing Data” https://www.zillow.com/research/data/ A list of the top 100 cities by population from Data Commons was analyzed to determine the cities where you need to work the most hours and the fewest hours to pay rent. [8] Data Commons, “Ranking by Population - Cities in the United States of America” https://datacommons.org/ranking/Count_Person/City/country/USA
New York requires the most hours of work to cover rent at 90.2 hours, and six of the top ten cities where you need to work the most hours to pay rent are in California, including San Francisco, Irvine, and San Jose.
| City | State | Working hours to pay rent |
|---|---|---|
| New York | New York | 90.2 |
| Miami | Florida | 89.4 |
| Jersey City | New Jersey | 83.5 |
| Boston | Massachusetts | 82.4 |
| San Francisco | California | 81.9 |
| Irvine | California | 81.2 |
| San Jose | California | 76.5 |
| Chula Vista | California | 76.3 |
| San Diego | California | 74.0 |
| Fremont | California | 72.7 |
Source [7] Zillow, “Housing Data” https://www.zillow.com/research/data/
New York residents need to work 90.2 hours to afford rent
Residents of New York City need to work the most hours to cover rent with 90.2 hours of work required to pay rent for a month ($3,459) on the average salary.
This trend isn't isolated. Six cities including Miami, Florida, Jersey City, New Jersey, and Boston, Massachusetts require over 80 work hours a month to manage rent costs, underscoring a growing disparity in housing affordability across major areas. [7] Zillow, “Housing Data” https://www.zillow.com/research/data/
It takes 89.4 working hours to cover rent in Miami
Renting in the city of Miami, Florida will take 89.4 working hours to cover the median monthly cost of rent.
The median rent in this area is $3,011 with an average hourly wage of just $33.68, making it one of the most expensive places to live in the U.S. when taking earnings into consideration.
This location requires local residents to work 51.1 more hours than the average American.
Cities where you need to work the fewest hours to pay rent
On the other end of the spectrum, Toledo, Ohio and Wichita, Kansas stand out as the areas where residents need to work the fewest hours to cover rent.
| City | State | Working hours to pay rent |
|---|---|---|
| Toledo | Ohio | 33.0 |
| Wichita | Kansas | 33.5 |
| Spokane | Washington | 34.2 |
| Buffalo | New York | 34.9 |
| Laredo | Texas | 36.5 |
| Saint Paul | Minnesota | 37.4 |
| Fort Wayne | Indiana | 38.1 |
| Cleveland | Ohio | 39.7 |
| Lubbock | Texas | 39.8 |
| Detroit | Michigan | 39.9 |
| Lincoln | Nebraska | 40.1 |
Sources [6] BLS, “Total private average hourly earnings and weekly hours and earnings by state” https://www.bls.gov/charts/state-employment-and-unemployment/average-hourly-earnings-and-weekly-hours-and-earnings-by-state.htm [7] Zillow, “Housing Data” https://www.zillow.com/research/data/
Toledo residents need the fewest working hours to cover rent (33)
The cheapest living can be enjoyed in Toledo, Ohio in regards to rent-to-wage costs. Here, only 33 hours of work per month are necessary to meet the median rent of $1,093, offering the most favorable rent-to-wage ratio in the nation. The average hourly wage for workers in Toledo is $33.09.
33.5 working hours are needed to cover rent in Wichita
Wichita, Kansas has the second lowest number of working hours needed to pay rent at 33.5. Here, residents earn $33.09 per hour on average and have a median monthly rent of $1,058.
This is almost a third of the number of hours someone needs to work in order to pay rent in New York City (90.2).
Methodology
Average hourly earnings by year were taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Federal Reserve, taking an average of hourly earnings across each year.
Median monthly rent by year was taken from the U.S. Census for 2004-2023 and from Apartment List for 2024-2025.
Rent prices by state were taken from Apartment List’s Data and Rent Estimates and Zillow’s Observed Rent Index (ZORI).
Rent prices by city were taken from Zillow’s Observed Rent Index (ZORI) for all homes, using a seed list of the 100 largest U.S. cities by population from Data Commons.
Historical minimum wage data was taken from Minimum-Wage.org.
The cost comparison in this article assumes one person renting alone in order to create a useful comparison between hourly earnings and rent prices. It should be noted that many people, of course, rent with others in the same apartment which would make the cost per person cheaper.
All data is correct as of January 2025 but is subject to change.
Sources
- [1] BLS, “Average Hourly and Weekly Earnings of all employees” https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t19.htm
- [2] Federal Reserve, “Average Hourly Earnings” https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CES0500000003
- [3] Apartment List, “Data and Rent Estimates” https://www.apartmentlist.com/research/category/data-rent-estimates
- [4] U.S. Census, “Rent Data” https://data.census.gov/table?q=rent
- [5] Minimum-Wage.org, “Federal Minimum Wage 2025” https://www.minimum-wage.org/federal
- [6] BLS, “Total private average hourly earnings and weekly hours and earnings by state” https://www.bls.gov/charts/state-employment-and-unemployment/average-hourly-earnings-and-weekly-hours-and-earnings-by-state.htm
- [7] Zillow, “Housing Data” https://www.zillow.com/research/data/
- [8] Data Commons, “Ranking by Population - Cities in the United States of America” https://datacommons.org/ranking/Count_Person/City/country/USA
