How Much Space $1,500 Rents You in Denver and Beyond

Since at least 2014, when the owners of the former Hotel VQ began leasing 330 square foot micro-apartments for $900, local renters have complained about the high prices they were paying for small spaces in Denver. Of course, one size doesn't fit all when it comes to the cost of...

By Michael Roberts

July 22, 2016

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Since at least 2014, when the owners of the former Hotel VQ began leasing 330-square-foot micro-apartments for $900, local renters have complained about the high prices they were paying for small spaces in Denver.

Of course, one size doesn't fit all when it comes to the cost of rent per square foot in the Mile High City. Last October, our Ana Campbell showed off ten apartments in the metro area going for $1,200, and they ranged from a 490-square-foot, one-bedroom, one-bath apartment in West Washington Park to a 1,300-square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bath apartment in Aurora.

Now, Rent Cafe has taken a look at the average amount of square footage that $1,500 will rent in the most populous U.S. cities — and while Denver's number doesn't represent the barrel's bottom, as you'll see, we predict that you'll be surprised by the places that typically offer more space for the money.

Below, see the photo-illustrated rundown of the twenty big cities with the highest average rent per square foot according to Rent Cafe, beginning with the worst. Click here to view the original post, How Much Space Does $1,500 Rent You in the 30 Most Populous US Cities?

Number 1: New York City

Square feet: 271

Price per square foot: $5.54

Average square feet: 727

Average rent: $4,031

Number 2: San Francisco

Square feet: 342

Price per square foot: $4.38

Average square feet: 748

Average rent: $3,275

Number 3: Boston

Square feet: 399

Price per square foot: $3.76

Average square feet: 827

Average rent: $3,111

Number 4: San Jose, California

Square feet: 526

Price per square foot: $2.85

Average square feet: 888

Average rent: $2,532

Number 5: Washington, D.C.

Square feet: 558

Price per square foot: $2.69

Average square feet: 741

Average rent: $1,996

Number 6: Los Angeles

Square feet: 570

Price per square foot: $2.63

Average square feet: 779

Average rent: $2,050

Number 7: Seattle

Square feet: 607

Price per square foot: $2.47

Average square feet: 711

Average rent: $1,756

Number 8: Chicago

Square feet: 641

Price per square foot: $2.34

Average square feet: 730

Average rent: $1,708

Number 9: San Diego

Square feet: 698

Price per square foot: $2.15

Average square feet: 848

Average rent: $1,820

Number 10: Philadelphia

Square feet: 820

Price per square foot: $1.83

Average square feet: 801

Average rent: $1,464

Continue to see more average rents per square foot in ten more cities, including Denver.

Number 11: Portland

Square feet: 852

Price per square foot: $1.76

Average square feet: 790

Average rent: $1,387

Number 12: Denver

Square feet: 915

Price per square foot: $1.64

Average square feet: 838

Average rent: $1,373

Number 13: Austin

Square feet: 1,049

Price per square foot: $1.43

Average square feet: 860

Average rent: $1,227

Number 14: Baltimore

Square feet: 1,071

Price per square foot: $1.40

Average square feet: 829

Average rent: $1,158

Number 15: Nashville

Square feet: 1,200

Price per square foot: $1.25

Average square feet: 902

Average rent: $1,131

Number 16: Dallas

Square feet: 1,210

Price per square foot: $1.24

Average square feet: 841

Average rent: $1,040

Number 17: Houston

Square feet: 1,271

Price per square foot: $1.18

Average square feet: 876

Average rent: $1,030

Number 18: Charlotte

Square feet: 1,364

Price per square foot: $1.10

Average square feet: 949

Average rent: $1,048

Number 19: San Antonio

Square feet: 1,376

Price per square foot: $1.09

Average square feet: 851

Average rent: $931

Number 20: Detroit

Square feet: 1,389

Price per square foot: $1.08

Average square feet: 802

Average rent: $870

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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