The increase in rent over the last five years may not be front-page news, but one Texas city with the highest monthly cost might be — because it’s not Austin.
Online real estate platform Zillow gathered and analyzed U.S. rent data between April 2020 and April 2025, and the outlook doesn’t seem great for renters.
Five years ago, the average U.S. renter needed to earn $60,000 to afford rent comfortably. Now, that number exceeds $80,000. In eight of the major metro areas, renters now need a six-figure salary…