Mapped: The Salary Needed to Afford Rent Across America

Key Takeaways

• The average U.S. renter now needs nearly $70,000 a year to afford a modest two-bedroom rental while spending no more than 30% of income on housing.
• In California and Hawaii, renters need more than $100,000 annually to meet that affordability benchmark.
• More than half of U.S. renter households are now cost-burdened, spending over 30% of their income on housing.

A modest two-bedroom rental now requires nearly $70,000 a year in income to be considered affordable in the U.S.

Using data from the National Low Income Housing Coalition, this map shows the salary needed to afford a two-bedroom rental in every state in 2025 while spending no more than 30% of income on housing and utilities.

The gap between wages and housing costs varies dramatically across the country. In some states, renters can meet the affordability benchmark on incomes below $40,000. In others, even six-figure salaries are barely enough to keep up with rent.

Read the full article here.