Key Takeaways
- The national average rent was $1,631 per month, an increase of 0.6% over the last year.
- 2025 ended with an all-time high vacancy rate of 8.5%, as new units entered the rental market with less lease-up activity.
- Miami Beach and Cincinnati replaced New York and West Palm Beach in rent increases for December.
In December, the national average rent was $1,631 per month for a one-bedroom and $1,889 per month for a two-bedroom. This was an increase of 0.6% from December 2024.
Rent for a one-bedroom averaged $1,615 per month in 2025, with prices beginning the year at $1,556 per month and spiking to $1,625 per month in April. Rents reached a peak in August at $1,640 per month, then hovered around $1,630 per month through the end of the year.
2025 in Review
The rental market cooled off in 2025 following post-pandemic activity. Despite fewer new units entering the market compared to previous years, the year ended with a vacancy rate of 8.5% and the lowest lease-ups since 2022. This calm market slowed rent increases, with December’s average rent of $1,631/month only 0.6% higher than the average rent in December 2024.
2025 could be a tipping point, with construction and vacancy data suggesting slow rent growth over the next several months. According to CoStar Group, about 85% of new constructions are luxury buildings, and high vacancies in these new properties are putting downward pressure on rent prices. Meanwhile, low- to mid-tier buildings are seeing fewer lease-ups as renters seek higher-quality amenities, requiring property managers to lower prices to meet lower demand.
While the vacancy rate for luxury properties finished the year at a whopping 11.1%, it dropped from 11.7% from the beginning of 2025 while the vacancy rates for low- to mid-tier properties increased slightly. If the vacancy gap between luxury properties and standard properties continues to close, 2026 may see a wider price spread.
December 2025 Rent Increases by City
2025 was a tumultuous year for Cincinnati’s rental market. Despite rising vacancy rates and fewer lease-ups, the rental market saw fewer new units and rapidly rising rents. This is largely because luxury units made up the majority of new units added to the market, which pushed both asking rents and vacancy rates upward.
Here are the cities with the biggest rent increases in December:
- Hollywood, FL: +5.9%
- Miami Beach, FL: +5.3%
- Brooklyn, NY: +5.1%
- Chicago, IL: +4.5%
- Cincinnati, OH: +3.5%
December 2025 Rent Decreases by City
Sarasota left the top five biggest rent decreases for the first time since March, bumping Austin up to the fifth-place spot.
Here are the cities with the biggest rent decreases in December:
- Cape Coral, FL: -8.6%
- Fort Myers, FL: -5.3%
- Naples, FL: -4.2%
- Denver, CO: -2.6%
- Austin, TX: -2.5%
Current Rent Prices Across the U.S.
|
City |
Current Average Rent |
Last Month’s Average Rent |
Year-Over-Year Difference |
|
$2,318 |
$2,320 |
-0.7% |
|
|
$1,605 |
$1,602 |
-0.7% |
|
|
$1,380 |
$1,383 |
-4.7% |
|
|
$3,407 |
$3,437 |
-0.9% |
|
|
$1,634 |
$1,632 |
-0.1% |
|
|
$2,969 |
$2,951 |
+0.9% |
|
|
$1,791 |
$1,796 |
+0.3% |
|
|
$1,465 |
$1,462 |
-2.1% |
|
|
$1,956 |
$1,954 |
+1.5% |
|
|
$1,124 |
$1,111 |
+1.2% |
|
|
$1,285 |
$1,280 |
-3.1% |
|
|
$1,138 |
$1,137 |
-0.5% |
|
|
$1,397 |
$1,395 |
-1.8% |
|
|
$1,600 |
$1,598 |
-4.1% |
|
|
$2,228 |
$2,239 |
-0.8% |
|
|
$1,257 |
$1,259 |
-2.3% |
|
|
$3,790 |
$3,823 |
+2.3% |
|
|
$1,713 |
$1,704 |
+0.9% |
|
|
$1,181 |
$1,182 |
-1.7% |
|
|
$1,110 |
$1,107 |
-0.4% |
|
|
$2,971 |
$2,966 |
+2.4% |
|
|
$1,292 |
$1,282 |
-2.2% |
|
|
$3,158 |
$3,152 |
+1% |
|
|
$1,204 |
$1,201 |
+0% |
|
|
$1,262 |
$1,267 |
-3.4% |
|
|
$1,808 |
$1,805 |
+0% |
|
|
$2,167 |
$2,167 |
-0.4% |
|
|
$1,475 |
$1,460 |
+0.5% |
|
|
$2,194 |
$2,186 |
-0.5% |
|
|
$1,178 |
$1,177 |
+0% |
|
|
$1,389 |
$1,386 |
+1.6% |
|
|
$1,652 |
$1,655 |
-2.1% |
|
|
$4,027 |
$4,025 |
+1.8% |
|
|
$1,564 |
$1,568 |
-1.2% |
|
|
$1,723 |
$1,719 |
-0.5% |
|
|
$1,303 |
$1,299 |
-4.1% |
|
|
$1,396 |
$1,376 |
+1.8% |
|
|
$1,503 |
$1,508 |
-1.2% |
|
|
$3,471 |
$3,466 |
+1.6% |
|
|
$1,350 |
$1,349 |
-4% |
|
|
$1,400 |
$1,397 |
+0.9% |
|
|
$1,557 |
$1,560 |
-1.5% |
|
|
$1,126 |
$1,121 |
+1.9% |
|
|
$1,070 |
$1,069 |
-3.8% |
|
|
$2,374 |
$2,372 |
-0.7% |
|
|
$3,157 |
$3,119 |
+4.9% |
|
|
$2,632 |
$2,632 |
+2.5% |
|
|
$2,081 |
$2,089 |
-0.5% |
|
|
$1,630 |
$1,633 |
-3.4% |
|
|
$2,236 |
$2,244 |
-3.4% |
How Current Rent Prices Impact Renters
If you’re planning to move in 2026, high vacancies will make it easier to rent a luxury rental in your budget. Newer properties are working hard to fill vacancies, often offering rent concessions. Rent prices tend to spike in April, May, and June in preparation for summer moves. With more renters choosing luxury apartments, you’ll probably get the best deals on higher-end properties over the next few months.
Need help comparing cities? Our Cost of Living Calculator makes it easy. You can also compare the rent prices from this report to those from August and July to determine the overall trend and visit the U.S. Rent Trends page to view the most current rent prices available across the U.S.
Methodology:
The rent data in this report is sourced from CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. CoStar Group is the leading authority in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, trusted by real estate professionals for more than 37 years. By combining this data with Apartments.com internal data and public record, we’re able to deliver the most up-to-date rental information available.
To determine overall rent trends, we evaluate rent prices from more than 2,400 cities across the nation, including the top 80 national markets. This analysis includes year-over-year and month-over-month rent changes to provide a comprehensive view of market dynamics. This report covers a diverse range of property types to ensure a holistic view of the rental market.
FAQs
What is the average rent in the U.S. right now?
The average rent in the U.S. is currently $1,624 per month, a year-over-year increase of 0.4%.
