Key Takeaways
- Miami saw the largest rent increase among major U.S. cities, with average rents rising 53% since 2020 to reach $2,645 in January.
- Fast-growing Sun Belt metros—including Tampa and Atlanta—saw some of the sharpest rent increases, fueled by migration from higher-cost regions.
- San Francisco (+13%) and Austin (+14%) experienced much slower rent growth.
Rents across major U.S. cities have surged 36% since 2020, reflecting the ripple effects of pandemic migration, tight housing supply, and rising demand in Sun Belt metros.
Using data from Zillow, this visualization compares rent inflation across 30 major U.S. cities between 2020 and January 2026, revealing where prices have climbed the fastest, and where growth has been more subdued.
Some cities have seen rent increases of more than 50%, while others have experienced significantly slower growth despite already high housing costs.
Back in 2020, rent in Miami cost $1,725, based on typical mid-market rents adjusted for the local housing mix.
By January 2026, it climbed to $2,645, now higher than rents in Seattle and Washington, DC. This coincided with a pandemic-era migration wave that added roughly 250,000 residents to the region.
Tampa ranks second, with 50% rent inflation. While monthly rent remains more affordable than Miami, at $1,986, prices have shot up by $664. Even more strikingly, the Tampa Bay region grew by 497,000 residents, likely owing to its relative affordability.
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Rent Inflation Varies Across California Cities
While Riverside and San Diego saw among the fastest-growing rents nationwide, San Francisco price growth was muted.
Riverside rents boomed 48% as residents moved away from costlier California metros. Over the period, rents jumped $795, reaching $2,464 per month, marking the third-highest increase across cities analyzed.
By contrast, San Francisco saw the slowest rent growth, rising just 13% since 2020. Amid growing affordability concerns, roughly 116,000 residents left the city, helping ease pressure on rental prices.
Notably, Austin followed a similar pattern of slower rent growth, with prices rising 14% over the period. Unlike San Francisco, however, the key factor was record apartment construction that significantly increased supply and moderated rent increases.
Miami Saw the Biggest Rent Increase Since 2020
Since 2020, Miami has seen the fastest rent growth in the U.S., with prices soaring 53%.
|
Rank
|
City
|
Change in Rental Cost
2020-2026
|
Average Monthly Rent
Jan 2026
|
| 1 |
Miami, FL |
53% |
$2,645 |
| 2 |
Tampa, FL |
50% |
$1,986 |
| 3 |
Riverside, CA |
48% |
$2,464 |
| 4 |
St. Louis, MO |
44% |
$1,409 |
| 5 |
Cincinnati, OH |
43% |
$1,522 |
| 6 |
Detroit, MI |
42% |
$1,455 |
| 7 |
San Diego, CA |
41% |
$2,871 |
| 8 |
Atlanta, GA |
38% |
$1,812 |
| 9 |
Chicago, IL |
37% |
$2,091 |
| 10 |
Orlando, FL |
37% |
$1,917 |
| 11 |
Phoenix, AZ |
36% |
$1,718 |
| 12 |
Las Vegas, NV |
36% |
$1,716 |
| 13 |
Charlotte, NC |
36% |
$1,704 |
| 14 |
Philadelphia, PA |
34% |
$1,849 |
| 15 |
Sacramento, CA |
34% |
$2,197 |
| 16 |
Pittsburgh, PA |
32% |
$1,449 |
| 17 |
New York, NY |
32% |
$3,232 |
| 18 |
Baltimore, MD |
32% |
$1,855 |
| 19 |
Boston, MA |
29% |
$3,049 |
| 20 |
Los Angeles, CA |
28% |
$2,885 |
| 21 |
Dallas, TX |
27% |
$1,633 |
| 22 |
Seattle, WA |
25% |
$2,183 |
| 23 |
Portland, OR |
25% |
$1,778 |
| 24 |
Washington, DC |
24% |
$2,333 |
| 25 |
Houston, TX |
22% |
$1,612 |
| 26 |
Minneapolis, MN |
22% |
$1,665 |
| 27 |
Denver, CO |
19% |
$1,838 |
| 28 |
San Antonio, TX |
17% |
$1,380 |
| 29 |
Austin, TX |
14% |
$1,561 |
| 30 |
San Francisco, CA |
13% |
$3,064
|
| Source: Visual Capitalist |
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