Are you tired of spending $1,500 per month for a closet with a sink? Then Missoula, Montana might be the move for you.
Location has long been the key to how much a house or apartment is worth, and some locations in the United States are, to put it mildly, really damn expensive. If you have $1,500 to spend in New York or Boston, a studio apartment might be your only hope. In Iowa City or Omaha, you can get a house.
Here's what $1,500 per month can get you in 11 cities across the country. Now, start looking for boxes.
Studio, shared bathroom, free oxygen
Being in New York means paying exorbitantly for what can somehow legally be called an apartment. This rent-stabilized unit in Greenwich Village is actually a decent deal for the neighborhood, and units this cheap are usually far away from the center of action in Manhattan.
3 beds, 2.5 baths, 1,530 sq. ft.
It might not be as exciting as New York or Los Angeles, but Iowa City's land prices put this multi-family home in your price range. Plus, if you're into college football or basketball, Iowa City is the home of the University of Iowa Hawkeyes.
Since land prices here are considerably cheaper than major coastal cities, you can get full homes for $1,500 in rent instead of tiny apartments.
Studio, 1 bath
Don't let the federal government scare you away from Washington -- our nation's capital is actually one of the country's most vibrant cities. These digs might not be the most spacious, but they're certainly a step up from studios in other cities.
Like any city, D.C. has its wealthier and poorer areas, but most places for $1,500 will be about this size.
Studio, 1 bath, 2-burner stove
San Francisco is embroiled in an affordable housing crisis, so now might not be the best time to make a break for the bay. If you need to, this studio apartment boasts luxury amenities like enough room for a bed and a place for you to bathe (but maybe not shower).
1 bed, 1 bath, 575 sq. ft.
Texas' capital is a quirky and eclectic oasis in the middle of the sprawling state, home to a research university, regional headquarters for major businesses and a solid music scene.
And for all of that, the property prices aren't too bad. Most apartments for this price will either be studio or one-bedroom units with bathrooms.
1 bed, 1 bath
Boston shines through the shadow of nearby New York, but the prices in some areas are almost as bad as they are in the Big Apple. For $1,500, you can get either a studio or one-bedroom apartment, depending on the area of Boston you're in.
7. Atlanta
1 bed, 2 bath, 1,200 sq. ft.
Atlanta had an economic renaissance after it hosted the 1996 Summer Olympics, and the city became one of the premier southern metropolises. Even with high demand, you can still snag this townhouse for a pretty good price.
4 beds, 2 baths, 1,838 sq. ft.
Montana might not be your ideal landing spot, but don't dismiss Big Sky Country just yet. The city of 110,000 hosts the University of Montana, and is a "rich, vibrant and diverse community," full of "loggers and ranchers coexisting with holdover hippies and artistic types," albeit according to its own website.
Also, you can rent a whole house for the price of a glorified closet in a major city, since there's a lot more land in Montana than people to live on it.
1 bed, 1 bath, 715 sq. ft.
For a cool $1,500 per month, you could live in the sun-soaked home city of Pitbull. The apartment might not be the biggest, but it's certainly an upgrade from your choices in New York, San Francisco and Boston. Like Austin, Miami is an eclectic southern city that doesn't have the same density issues as many other American hot spots.
1 bed, 1 bath, 1,055 sq. ft.
Don't overlook this Midwestern metropolis. Kansas City has professional sports teams, a strong musical heritage and a bustling downtown. Plus, that much space for that good of a price is an excellent deal. For $1,500 per month, you could land either a spacious unit with a bedroom and bathroom, and even an additional room room or two.
11. Omaha, Nebraska
4 beds, 2 baths, 1,400 sq. ft.
Contrary to popular belief, Nebraska isn't just a corn field with a state government. You can also get a full house in one of its major cities for a little less than $1,500 per month, since land demand isn't nearly as high here.
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