According to an analysis from RentCafe of the best cities for renters, Phoenix offers the 4th best big city life for renters in 2025. It was surpassed only by Texas’ major hubs due to a lower cost of living and more housing options for renters. New York’s boroughs sit at the end of the list. Here, the strong job market and living perks come at a hefty price tag.

Here’s how Phoenix compares to the other large cities in the U.S., which of the study’s 20 metrics makes it stand out and why your city didn’t snatch the 1st place:

Cost of Living and Housing Category

  • The cost of living in Phoenix is 6.2% above the national average. Renters get an average of 816 sq. ft. of living space, while 48% of apartments for rent in Phoenix offer high-end amenities.
  • San Antonio boasts the lowest cost of living among large cities — an impressive 8.8% below the national average — and the most spacious apartments, averaging 870 square feet. It’s no surprise, then, that the Alamo City ranks as the top large city for renters. Additionally, half of all rental units in the city are considered high-end.
  • In California and New York City, the cost of living is between 45% above average in San Diego and 130% above average in Manhattan, while less than a third of apartments have top tier amenities and renters get less than 800 square feet, on average. 

LOCAL NEWS: 100 best places to work and live in Arizona for 2025

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS: Want more news like this? Get our free newsletter here

Local Economy Category

  • Phoenix stands out with one of the lowest unemployment rates among the nation’s largest cities, at 5.1%. In New York City’s boroughs, the unemployment rate reached up to 7.5%, while Los Angeles and Chicago lead with 7.9%. 
  • But that’s not all. Renters in Phoenix experienced a 41.6% income growth in 5 years. Only 3 other large cities saw an increase of 40% or more (San Diego, Philadelphia and Los Angeles). At the other end of the spectrum, the renter income growth in San Antonio and Houston is roughly 30%, while Manhattan is last with 26.6%. 
  • On the other hand, Phoenix saw a negative job growth, alongside Los Angeles. While in Texas and New York City, the job market is thriving with growth rates of up to 1.8%.

Quality of Life Category

  • Commuting in Phoenix is less burdensome than in other large cities. Here, roughly 2 in 5 people stay in traffic for more than 30 minutes. In New York, that’s 2 in 3, while in Chicago and Philadelphia, half the population experience long commutes.
  • On the other hand, Phoenix ranks low in this category compared to the other big cities because only 18% of apartments are in top locations near shopping, entertainment, public transport or green spaces. In Manhattan, Chicago and San Diego, half or more of all rental units are well located, while in Houston and Philadelphia one-third of apartments are in desirable locations. 
  • Phoenix is a car-dependent city and only 3.4% of residents use public transport, compared to half or more of the population in Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia and New York City.