If you’re planning to savor the real essence of America and intend to stay for more than a few days or weeks, you likely wouldn’t opt for a hotel. For a more extended trip spanning several months, renting a room or a smaller apartment proves to be more economical. Though you may have to compromise on certain amenities, you will certainly save a substantial amount.
-
Table of Contents
Cost of Renting an Apartment in the USA
The rental costs in the USA fluctuate significantly not only by state, but even within individual neighborhoods. Some of the pricier locations include New York City, the coastal area of California, southern Florida, and Seattle.
On the other hand, the most affordable rentals are often found in less desirable states in the Midwest.
You can gain an accurate understanding of the rental costs in a particular location by visiting Rentometer.com.
-
Renting an Apartment through Airbnb: A Safe Option with a Broad Selection
The simplest method to reserve a room or a whole property is through Airbnb (what is Airbnb). People list their vacant rooms, apartments, or even entire properties on Airbnb.
Airbnb acts as an intermediary in the transaction and also a dispute resolver in cases of problems (e.g., when a host complains that you have caused damage to their home, or when a guest reports false information).
Airbnb has the advantage of extensive availability virtually anywhere in the USA, ease of booking, and relative safety. Airbnb verifies hosts in several ways, and you can also read reviews from previous guests. Some hosts on Airbnb rent out apartments or rooms exclusively on a long-term basis.
You can easily search for apartments for rent not only by location or price, but also by desired amenities such as a gym or beachfront location.
-
Craigslist.com: Apartment and Room Vacancy Listings
You can find an array of rental and sublet listings (as well as job offers, temporary work, and other advertisements) at Craigslist.org. At the time of writing, there were several thousand listings for all levels and locations in New York City alone.
Craigslist covers the entire USA and provides more than just apartment rentals. It’s a marketplace where anyone can post their offers or inquiries. As with any online platform, Craigslist also houses various scams. The basic advice is: Never send money to anyone upfront.
Additionally, don’t expect anyone in America to rent you an apartment immediately without any inspection. It’s essential to build trust first, and linking to your social networks or to your company’s website can help. Nevertheless, plan to spend the first few days after you arrive in the USA in a hotel.
Once you’re there, arrange a tour of some of the apartments you’ve found and meet the owner or landlord. When choosing an apartment, I recommend using Streetview on Google Maps to get a basic idea of the neighborhood. You can also find out how safe a location is at CrimeMapping.com.
💬 Do you have experiences with finding a rental apartment in the USA or using Craigslist? Share them in the discussion below the article.
Contribute with Your Question or Personal Experience