Choosing a place to rent and call home for a few years is a big financial decision, and one often made under strict constraints. Last-minute job changes, graduations, and the end of previous leases can all contribute to the need to find a new apartment for rent as soon as possible. If you haven’t set a rigid guide, it can be easy to blur the numbers on your monthly rent, squeeze your eyes shut, and sign a lease for a slightly overbudget apartment.
However luxurious that pricey new place feels, it might cost you in the long run by putting you in the red, or depleting the money you could be adding to a down payment or rental savings account. If you set an apartment budget ahead of time, then you’ll be able to focus your search on or near a particular price point, and you won’t be tempted to overreach with that more expensive apartment.
So, go ahead and compute the financials, set a rental budget, and then enjoy the fun part: Searching the oodles of apartments for rent in your new hometown! Here are six apartments for rent at every price point from $700 per month to $1,200 per month to get you started.
Loaded with amenities in Houston: $715/month, 5401 Chimney Rock
The one-bedroom apartments at 5401 Chimney Rock bring convenience, affordability, and spaciousness to Houston, TX, rentals. Located just 10 minutes from the heart of downtown, units include fully equipped kitchens, washers and dryers, and large windows to outdoor patios and balconies. With four on-site swimming pools, you’ll have plenty of options for soaking up that summer sun, and an on-site minimarket offers added convenience.
Affordable luxury in Greenville, SC: $830/month, Plantations at Haywood Apartments
Live it up in Greenville, SC, at a two-bedroom, 1,218-square-foot apartment at the Plantations at Haywood. Whether you move in with a roomie (in the form of a pooch or person — dogs are allowed!) or enjoy the extra elbow room of a two-bedroom all to yourself, you’re sure to be comfortable here. The units feature screened-in patios, vaulted ceilings, fireplaces, and renovated interiors, and community amenities include three pools, a fitness center, two tennis courts, a dog park, car wash, a guest suite, and a playground.
Top-rated and convenient: $900/month, Evergreen at The Bluffs
A two-bedroom, 1,035-square-foot unit in Knoxville, TN’s highest-rated luxury apartment community comes in at less than a grand per month. The 10-minute drive to downtown Knoxville, West Knoxville, and The University of Tennessee makes commuting a breeze, and you’re sure to enjoy quiet afternoons and evenings at the community’s resort-style swimming pool. Other community perks include an internet cafe with complimentary Wi-Fi, a cappuccino bar, and a state-of-the-art fitness center.
Sparkling amenities in a laid-back setting: $1,003/month, Hampton Manor Apartments & Townhomes
Live within commuting distance of Washington, DC, and Baltimore, MD, while enjoying the sweet freedom of living in the small-town of Cockeysville, MD with nearby hiking trails and convenient shopping at the Hunt Valley Town Center. Behind a sophisticated all-brick facade, the one-bedroom apartments at Hampton Manor feature large windows, balconies, oversized closets, and in-home washers and dryers. Sweet unit features aside, it would do these apartments an injustice to overlook the amenities: Your monthly rent gives you access to the state-of-the-art fitness center, grassy dog park, basketball court, and sparkling swimming pool with a large sun deck.
Sophisticated and practical: $1,135/month, Scott Mountain by the Brook Apartments
Imagine landing your dream apartment in Portland, OR that fits your budget. Your wish can come true at Scott Mountain by the Brook, where a one-bedroom apartment gets you thoughtful design like built-in kitchen desks and vaulted ceilings. Located near I-205 and Clackamas Town Center, the apartment community features comforting amenities like a large pool, indoor and outdoor community lounges, and a sport court. Plus, making friends will be a breeze: The community sponsors planned resident events.
River views and outdoor recreation: $1,245/month, Promenade Pointe
With home located on the banks of the Lafayette River (and less than 30 minutes from Virginia Beach!), life at Promenade Pointe apartments in Norfolk, VA, is the perfect blend of community and nature. Enjoy outdoor recreation straight from your door — the community offers a canoe, kayak, and stand-up-paddleboard renting station for spending time on the water. Other on-site amenities include a private pier, an outdoor cabana with TVs, a lounging gazebo, and a gas grilling station next to the resort-style pool. Sold yet? Just wait until it’s time to head home to your one-bedroom, 777-square-foot apartment with features like 9-foot ceilings, balconies and sunrooms, planked flooring, and granite countertops.
