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I’m not saying that snagging a two-bedroom apartment is the sign that you’re either a) an adult with a growing family, or b) the ultimate sign of “making it,” but, let’s be honest, how many of us out there can actually afford getting anything more than just a 650-square-foot place that barely keeps our bed away from our kitchen table — especially when it comes to living in an expensive city? Truth is, without combined income from a significant other, we probably can’t.
Sure, there’s the possibility of getting a roommate to move into a two-bedroom apartment and keep rent down, but I’m 34 years old, so, yeah, I’m not really looking to get another buddy of mine to move in with me to relive our glory days of late-night boozin’ and Madden-playing — although it does sound tempting AF just writing that. Shit is expensive, and, unfortunately, we don’t have too many options out there if we’re looking for more space to live in an apartment when salaries just don’t match up.
For those wondering just how expensive things have gotten, look no further than what I’m about to show you — which is a list of annual salaries one must earn in order to comfortably afford a two-bedroom apartment in the 25 largest cities in the United States. Proceed with caution, because, hot damn, you need to make some serious coin.
Per Business Insider:
- Memphis, TN
- Average two-bedroom apartment cost: $814
- Annual income needed: $34,886
- Detroit, MI
- Average two-bedroom apartment cost: $831
- Annual income needed: $35,614
- El Paso, TX
- Average two-bedroom apartment cost: $875
- Annual income needed: $37,500
- Indianapolis, IN
- Average two-bedroom apartment cost: $915
- Annual income needed: $39,214
- Columbus, OH
- Average two-bedroom apartment cost: $1,050
- Annual income needed: $45,000
- San Antonio, TX
- Average two-bedroom apartment cost: $1,229
- Annual income needed: $52,671
- Phoenix, AZ
- Average two-bedroom apartment cost: $1,250
- Annual income needed: $53,571
- Jacksonville, FL
- Average two-bedroom apartment cost: $1,279
- Annual income needed: $54,793
- Nashville, TN
- Average two-bedroom apartment cost: $1,500
- Annual income needed: $64,286
- Houston, TX
- Average two-bedroom apartment cost: $1,525
- Annual income needed: $65,357
- Charlotte, NC
- Average two-bedroom apartment cost: $1,526
- Annual income needed: $65,400
- Fort Worth, TX
- Average two-bedroom apartment cost: $1,600
- Annual income needed: $68,571
- Austin, TX
- Average two-bedroom apartment cost: $1,600
- Annual income needed: $68,571
- Philadelphia, PA
- Average two-bedroom apartment cost: $1,691
- Annual income needed: $72,450
- Dallas, TX
- Average two-bedroom apartment cost: $1,850
- Annual income needed: $79,286
- Chicago, IL
- Average two-bedroom apartment cost: $1,895
- Annual income needed: $81,214
- Denver, CO
- Average two-bedroom apartment cost: $2,151
- Annual income needed: $92,164
- San Diego, CA
- Average two-bedroom apartment cost: $2,477
- Annual income needed: $106,136
- Boston, MA
- Average two-bedroom apartment cost: $2,500
- Annual income needed: $107,143
- Seattle, WA
- Average two-bedroom apartment cost: $2,753
- Annual income needed: $117,986
- Los Angeles, CA
- Average two-bedroom apartment cost: $3,000
- Annual income needed: $128,571
- San Jose, CA
- Average two-bedroom apartment cost: $3,088
- Annual income needed: $132,343
- Washington, DC
- Average two-bedroom apartment cost: $3,100
- Annual income needed: $132,857
- New York, NY (Manhattan)
- Average two-bedroom apartment cost: $3,800
- Annual income needed: $162,857
- San Francisco, CA
- Average two-bedroom apartment cost: $4,593
- Annual income needed: $196,843
Uh, yeah, remember that whole roommate idea? Might sound like the best option considering the salary it takes for a two-bedroom apartment in some of these places. It’s not like one-bedroom spots are getting any cheaper, either, so maybe it’s time I find myself a mail order bride to help keep my bills down each month. Yeah, that sounds like a reasonable solution.
To see more info from the Business Insider list, head on over to their website.