As renters navigate the labyrinth of housing options, it’s worth noting that Phoenix has emerged as the 4th best big city for renters in 2025. Not trailing far behind the Texas’s major cities, Phoenix has carved out a space for itself with a relative affordability and range of rental choices. Meanwhile, with a starker contrast, Scottsdale and Gilbert, both Phoenix suburbs, stand among the best U.S. cities for renters, as reported by Phoenix New Times. Though these cities are known for their upscale living and not traditionally renter-friendly attitudes, their quality of life standards have placed them favorably in recent rankings.
Diving into the numbers, Phoenix’s cost of living hovers 6.2% above the national average, granting renters an average space of 816 sq. ft., with nearly half of its apartments flush with premium amenities. In comparison, while San Antonio comes in at 8.8% below the national average, the typical living space enlarges to 870 square feet—underscoring why it’s the top large city for renters. This is especially impressive when weighed against cities like San Diego and Manhattan, where costs spiral 45% to 130% above average, and renters are squeezed into less than 800 square feet generally, according to the same AZ Big Media study.
When examining local economies, Phoenix flaunts a low unemployment rate of 5.1%, and renters have seen their incomes swell by 41.6% over five years. Yet Phoenix and Los Angeles are unique, witnessing a dip in job growth, a trend that Texas and New York City seem immune to with their flourishing job markets, as reported by AZ Big Media. For renters in Phoenix, these economic indicators spell out a more nuanced portrait of financial viability than mere numbers on a lease agreement might suggest…