Rent vs. Ticket Prices: How Many MLB Games Could You Go to for the Price of an Apartment in Each Team’s City?

As the League Championship Series finishes up, MLB is coming to its peak at the World Series, set to start October 23. The final two teams out of the starting 30 coming head-to-head is as loud as the crack of a home run, and that intensity can get pricey. Ticketmaster reports that the average price range of a World Series ticket is $675-$4,000, enough to cover the security deposit for an apartment.

However, not all games are this expensive. Look at the average ticket price across a season, and a typical ticket costs closer to the price of an application fee. Each team handles their own pricing, and it varies widely, from as low as $30 all the way to over $100.

A $30 ticket can feel like a splurge in a high-rent city, while a $70 ticket might be pocket change somewhere more affordable. We put rent and ticket prices in their own postseason showdown: how many games could a renter catch for the price of one month’s rent? The gap is bigger than you’d think. In Miami, the city with the most favorable ratio, that’s enough for 77 tickets. In the least favorable, Houston, it’s just 16.

Games-per-rent is just the start of postseason; the real World Series is how the cities actually rank. A city could post a great number simply because its ticket prices are inexpensive, even if rent there is high, or vice versa. So, we went a step further and scored every city on three benchmarks: whether rent falls below the national average of $1,666, whether ticket prices fall below the league median $55.46, and whether the games-per-rent ratio itself beats the median of 33. Only two cities clear all three.

The Best Deals in Baseball: The Cities Where Rent and Tickets Beat the League

There were only two cities who met all three benchmarks in a winning streak: Kansas City and Atlanta. Favorable ticket prices mean fans can catch numerous games a season, and rents that undercut the national average mean doing so without blowing the budget.

Atlanta Braves – Atlanta, GA

• Average ticket price: $42.57
• Average rent in Atlanta: $1,651/month
• Games per monthly rent: 38

The Atlanta Braves gave their fans a season to remember in 2026. After a disappointing 76-86 finish the year before, Atlanta came back with a 94-68 record, claiming its first NL East division title since 2023 and returning to the postseason under first-year manager Walt Weiss.

A dominant bullpen led by closer Raisel Iglesias (34 saves) alongside a steady season from veteran lefty Chris Sale (14-9) carried the Braves past the Phillies in the Wild Card round. Their run ended in the NL Division Series against the back-to-back World Series champions, the Dodgers. It was Atlanta’s best finish in three years, and a reminder of how thrilling a trip to Truist Park can be.

For Atlanta renters, that kind of success doesn’t have to come at a high cost. While a trip to Dodger Stadium or Fenway Park means paying some of the steepest ticket prices in the league, Truist Park remains one of the most affordable parks to watch a contender. The average Atlanta apartment rents for $1,651 a month, and the average Braves ticket runs $42.57, so a renter could buy roughly 38 tickets for the price of one month’s rent. With the Battery’s restaurants, retail, and activity surrounding the stadium, it’s well worth the price for not just a couple hours of fun, but an entire day of entertainment.

Kansas City Royals – Kansas City, MO

• Average ticket price: $36.1
• Average rent in Kansas City: $1,255/month
• Games per monthly rent: 34

Kansas City’s 2026 season wasn’t exactly a highlight reel as they had challenges on and off the field. The Royals finished 69-93, fifth in the AL Central, and missed the playoffs. In addition, they suffered a brutal 22-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox in June, the worst defeat in team history.

But there were bright spots. Bobby Witt Jr. continued to anchor the lineup as one of the game’s best young stars, and Salvador Pérez made franchise history, hitting his 318th career home run to pass George Brett and become the Royals’ all-time home run leader. It’s a reminder of just how much talent still runs through the roster, even in a down year.

Though the Royals’ standings didn’t give their fans much to cheer about, low prices still kept fans coming out game after game. The average Kansas City apartment rents for $1,255 a month, and the average Royals ticket costs just $36.10. That means a renter could buy roughly 34 Royals tickets for the price of one month’s rent. Not a bad price for switching up weekend plans.

Strike Three: Cities That Miss on All Fronts

The Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Philadelphia Phillies are among the biggest names in baseball. They are long-running franchises in major cities that play in some of the sport’s most beloved ballparks with fans who show up in huge numbers no matter the cost. But that popularity comes at a price.

All three cities carry pricey tickets, and as the cities are also major markets, they come with high rent prices as well. That means that not one of these three teams cleared a single benchmark in our analysis. Yet, many fans are willing to pay the price to continue to support their team.

Chicago Cubs – Chicago, IL

• Average ticket price: $116.68
• Average rent in Chicago: $2,056/month
• Games per monthly rent: 17

The Chicago Cubs put together a respectable 2026, even if it ended earlier than they hoped. The Cubs finished 89-73, second in the NL Central behind the Milwaukee Brewers team, who were swinging for the fences all year. They clinched a playoff berth for the second straight year, before the San Diego Padres swept them out of the Wild Card round.

Their season was strong across the board. Center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong had a breakout year, becoming the first Cub ever to join the 40-40 club with 44 home runs and 40 stolen bases, and Ian Happ collected his 1,000th career hit, all with Chicago. Manager Craig Counsell picked up his 900th career win along the way, even after the Cubs lost the best win-loss record in baseball as a ten-game losing streak knocked them off track in May during a mid-season dip.

For renters, though, Wrigleyville isn’t where you go looking for a deal. Tickets cost fans an average of $116.68, the highest price out of all the teams. This price means that even if you devoted one month of rent to buying tickets, you wouldn’t get many, even though the average Chicago apartment runs higher at $2,056/month. That works out to be just 17 Cubs games. Cheering for the Cubs comes at a cost, both at home in front of your TV and at the ballpark.

Los Angeles Dodgers – Los Angeles, CA

• Average ticket price: $100.58
• Average rent in Los Angeles: $2,200/month
• Games per monthly rent: 21

The Los Angeles Dodgers kept their dynasty rolling in 2026. The Dodgers went 99-62, won the NL West for the 13th time in 14 seasons, and clinched their 14th straight postseason appearance. That tied them with the Braves’ all-time record for the longest playoff streak in MLB history.

Shohei Ohtani hit his 300th career home run in July, Yoshinobu Yamamoto almost had a no-hitter into the ninth inning in June, and manager Dave Roberts became the fastest skipper in MLB history to reach 1,000 career wins. After knocking out Atlanta in the NLDS, the Dodgers are now in the NLCS for a rematch with the Milwaukee Brewers, chasing an unprecedented third straight National League pennant.

All that winning comes at a cost for Dodgers fans, though, and not just at the ticket office. Los Angeles has one of the most expensive rental markets in the league, with the average apartment going for $2,200 a month, and Dodgers tickets are one the priciest in baseball at an average of $100.58 a game. Put those together and a month’s rent only buys about 21 Dodgers games. Front-row seats to a dynasty don’t come cheap, whether you’re renting an apartment or getting a seat at Dodger Stadium.

Philadelphia Phillies – Philadelphia, PA

• Average ticket price: $68.09
• Average rent in Philadelphia: $1,774/month
• Games per monthly rent: 26

It was a season of two very different halves for the Philadelphia Phillies. After a 9-19 start, the Phillies fired manager Rob Thomson in late April and turned to bench coach Don Mattingly, who led the team to a better finish. Philadelphia closed the year at 86-70, second in the NL East behind Atlanta, and clinched a Wild Card berth.

Their lineup was anchored by Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, and J.T. Realmuto, with Zack Wheeler and Cristopher Sánchez leading the rotation. The Phillies hosted the All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park in July, but their season ended in heartbreak in October. A decisive Game 3 loss to the Braves in the Wild Card round sent Philadelphia home before the Division Series.

For renters, Philadelphia is another one of those cities where you’ll pay a higher amount to cheer them on. This comes from a moderate premium on both rent and tickets, rather than the extremes found in Los Angeles or Chicago. The average Philadelphia apartment runs $1,774 a month, and the average Phillies ticket costs $68.09. So, renters could catch about 26 games for the price of a month’s rent. As the team has made it to the postseason for three straight years, it can cost you to be a home-game fan, even if 2026 ended earlier than Phillies fans had hoped.

The Middle of the Pack Cities

The remaining 25 teams and their cities make up the rest of the field. They may not clear all the benchmarks like Kansas City or Atlanta, but most still got a hit on one or two of them. However a city’s batting average stacks up against the benchmarks, fans are still getting a chance at bat for a night or two out at the ballpark.

Find Your Own Seat Near the Action on Apartments.com

No matter where your team lands on the leaderboard, one thing holds true across every city: the closer you live to the ballpark, the easier it is to make a game-day decision on a whim instead of a whole afternoon commitment. A long drive or multiple transit transfers can turn a $30 ticket into a half-day event, eating into the very savings that made the game affordable in the first place.

That's where Apartments.com's commute tool comes in. When searching for your next apartment, you can filter listings by drive time, walk time, or public transit time to any address, including your team's stadium. Instead of guessing whether a listing is actually close to the ballpark, you can see the commute up front and build your roster around it.

Whether you're chasing a deal in Kansas City, trying to make the math work in a pricier market like Los Angeles or Boston, or just want to be able to walk to more games this season, start your search on Apartments.com and use the commute filter to find a place that keeps you close to the action.