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Most Affordable Cities for Entry-Level Workers
Starting a career is hard enough without rent eating your entire paycheck. These cities give entry-level workers earning $45,000 the best shot at financial stability.
Benchmark salary: $45,000 / year · 2-bedroom HUD Fair Market Rent
Top 25 Most Affordable Cities
Cities where $45,000 goes furthest, ranked by lowest rent burden.
| # | City | 2BR Rent / yr | Rent Burden | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Puerto Rico HUD Nonmetro Area | $5,700 | 12.7% | A |
| 2 | Guayama, PR | $5,700 | 12.7% | A |
| 3 | Yauco, PR | $5,832 | 13.0% | A |
| 4 | Barranquitas-Aibonito, PR | $5,916 | 13.1% | A |
| 5 | Lares Municipio, PR Exception Area | $6,048 | 13.4% | A |
| 6 | Utuado Municipio, PR Exception Area | $6,048 | 13.4% | A |
| 7 | Arecibo, PR | $6,120 | 13.6% | A |
| 8 | Las Marías Municipio, PR Exception Area | $6,192 | 13.8% | A |
| 9 | San Germán, PR | $6,360 | 14.1% | A |
| 10 | Adjuntas Municipio, PR Exception Area | $6,372 | 14.2% | A |
| 11 | Mayagüez, PR | $6,432 | 14.3% | A |
| 12 | Ponce, PR | $6,456 | 14.3% | A |
| 13 | Aguadilla, PR | $6,768 | 15.0% | A |
| 14 | Caguas, PR | $6,912 | 15.4% | A |
| 15 | Fajardo, PR | $7,200 | 16.0% | A |
| 16 | San Juan-Guaynabo, PR | $7,956 | 17.7% | A |
| 17 | Crenshaw County, AL | $9,312 | 20.7% | B |
| 18 | Jackson County, AL | $9,312 | 20.7% | B |
| 19 | Marshall County, AL | $9,312 | 20.7% | B |
| 20 | Lamar County, AL | $9,312 | 20.7% | B |
| 21 | Escambia County, AL | $9,312 | 20.7% | B |
| 22 | Marion County, AL | $9,312 | 20.7% | B |
| 23 | Pickens County, AL | $9,312 | 20.7% | B |
| 24 | Barbour County, AL | $9,312 | 20.7% | B |
| 25 | DeKalb County, AL | $9,312 | 20.7% | B |
How We Calculate the Affordability Grade
We divide the annual 2-bedroom HUD Fair Market Rent by the benchmark salary to get a rent burden percentage. Financial advisors recommend keeping housing under 30% of gross income (the "30% rule"). Grades: A <20% · B 20–25% · C 25–30% · D 30–40% · F >40%
10 Least Affordable Cities
Cities where rent puts the biggest strain on a $45,000 salary.
| # | City | 2BR Rent / yr | Rent Burden | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $50,568 | 112.4% | F |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $43,248 | 96.1% | F |
| 3 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $41,796 | 92.9% | F |
| 4 | Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA | $38,832 | 86.3% | F |
| 5 | Nantucket County, MA | $37,656 | 83.7% | F |
| 6 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $37,488 | 83.3% | F |
| 7 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $36,012 | 80.0% | F |
| 8 | Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH | $35,292 | 78.4% | F |
| 9 | Oakland-Fremont, CA | $34,944 | 77.7% | F |
| 10 | New York, NY | $34,920 | 77.6% | F |