So you've been living in the same place for the last few years and have decided now's the time to upgrade—maybe you're moving in with your significant other, want a bigger place, or just really want a backyard pool. Depending on what you're looking for (and what you're willing to spend on rent), it might be a better idea to look for a new city first.
Two G's can get you a pretty great place in some cities, and little more than a closet in others. To help you decide where you might want to relocate—depending on your budget—we've pulled together a sampling of your options from real estate website Trulia of what $2,000 a month will get you in the 50 largest (by population) American cities (listings available as of August 29, 2017). Some may surprise you. And if you're looking to buy—and buy big—don't miss our roundup of the 50 Best Cities in the U.S. for Buying a Mansion.
1 | New York, NY
What You Can Rent: 210 E 63rd St #2C,
New York, NY 10065
Type of Property: studio
Year Built: n/a
Square Footage: 525
Number of Bedrooms: 0
Number of Bathrooms: 1
As anyone who has lived in New York City knows, it's America's least generous city with space. The best bang for your buck these days is on the stuffier Upper East Side—yes, ironically also the city's poshest neighborhood—where east-of-Lexington rentals remain low as younger crowds flock to Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. This apartment, though small, isn't bad. You'd be less than two blocks from the subway and plopped in a location that's fairly equidistant from Central Park and the East River.
2 | Los Angeles, CA
What You Can Rent: 2321 Highbury Ave #56
Los Angeles, CA 90032
Type of Property: multi family
Year Built: 1982
Square Footage: 813
Number of Bedrooms: 2
Number of Bathrooms: 2
For this price tag, Lincoln Heights offers some comfort with the basic amenities, but the kitchen is showing some significant tear and wear. If you're yearning for more square footage, consider growing your budget by trying The Best Way to Earn $500,000 in Your Spare Time.
3 | Chicago, IL
What You Can Rent: 2029 W Huron St #2
Chicago, IL 60612
Type of Property: multi family
Year Built: n/a
Square Footage: 1000
Number of Bedrooms: 3
Number of Bathrooms: 1.5
In the Ukranian Village of West Town, you get a spacious three bedroom in a quiet building that has been recently renovated.
4 | Cleveland, OH
What You Can Rent: 2820 Bridge Ave #B
Type of Property: townhouse
Year Built: 1900
Square Footage: 1,500
Number of Bedrooms: 2
Number of Bathrooms: 2
This is a classy open-floor plan townhouse with lots of space near some Cleveland hangouts such as Heck's Cafe, The Black Pig, and Westside Market.
5 | Phoenix, AZ
What You Can Rent: 3841 W Eva St
Phoenix, AZ 85051
Type of Property: single family
Year Built: 1968
Square Footage: 2090
Number of Bedrooms: 4
Number of Bathrooms: 2
Phoenix offers this fully renovated four-bedroom house in a quiet location with a swimming pool.
6 | Philadelphia, PA
What You Can Rent: 1811 Christian St #B
Philadelphia, PA 19146
Type of Property: multi family
Year Built: 1915
Square Footage: 1835
Number of Bedrooms: 2
Number of Bathrooms: 2
Two grand a month will get you a two-floor duplex with one master and one smaller bedroom, two bathrooms, and a balcony overlooking the City Center.
7 | San Antonio, TX
What You Can Rent: 25111 Royal Land
San Antonio, TX 78255
Type of Property: single family
Year Built: 2007
Square Footage: 2509
Number of Bedrooms: 4
Number of Bathrooms: 2 1/2
In San Antonio, you can get this four-bedroom renovated family home in a desirable neighborhood with solar panels to harness the Texas sun.
8 | San Diego, CA
What You Can Rent: 2121 B St #2
San Diego, CA 92102
Type of Property: multi family
Year Built: 1990
Square Footage: n/a
Number of Bedrooms: 2
Number of Bathrooms: 2
Sunny San Diego offers a three-bedroom condo with basic amenities with a mountain view, community pool and gym, and two parking spots.
9 | Dallas, TX
What You Can Rent: 6720 Prairie Flower Trl
Dallas, TX 75227
Type of Property: single family
Year Built: 2007
Square Footage: 3032
Number of Bedrooms: 4
Number of Bathrooms: 3 1/2
As you might expect in Dallas, you get a huge house—and it's 10 minutes from downtown, with three living areas, garden tub, and a huge back yard surrounded by a tree belt.
10 | San Jose, CA
What You Can Rent: Central San Jose, CA 95110
Type of Property: multi family
Year Built: 2001
Square Footage: 1697
Number of Bedrooms: 2
Number of Bathrooms: 2 1/2
In Silicon Valley, $2K a month will get you a two-bedroom apartment in a well-kept building in downtown San Jose with all basic amenities.
11 | Austin, TX
What You Can Rent: 54 Rainey St #511
Austin, TX 78701
Type of Property: multi family
Year Built: 2006
Square Footage: 756
Number of Bedrooms: 1
Number of Bathrooms: 1
In this hot spot, you get a luxury one-bedroom apartment in a high-rise complex with all the works including, gym, hot tube, gas grills, concierge and stunning view of downtown and Lady Bird Lake.
12 | Jacksonville, FL
What You Can Rent: 5020 Ortega Blvd
Jacksonville, FL 32210
Type of Property: single family
Year Built: 1947
Square Footage: 1439
Number of Bedrooms: 3
Number of Bathrooms: 2
Jacksonville offers a cozy renovated 3-bedroom house with backyard pool and plenty of grass to go about.
13 | San Francisco, CA
What You Can Rent: 794 Andover St #B
San Francisco, CA 94110
Type of Property: multi family
Year Built: 2016
Square Footage: 450
Number of Bedrooms: 0
Number of Bathrooms: 1
In this notoriously saturated real estate market, you can score a luxury modern studio in a two-unit house by a local designer and developer, including a partial kitchen and plenty of natural light.
14 | Columbus, OH
What You Can Rent: 1799 Ramblewood Ave
Columbus, OH 43235
Type of Property: single family
Year Built: 1975
Square Footage: 2630
Number of Bedrooms: 4
Number of Bathrooms: 2 1/2
Here you can get an entire suburban house with thick carpets, solid amenities, a large back yard, and plenty of space. (2600 square feet!)
15 | Indianapolis, IN
What You Can Rent: 514 W 43rd St
Indianapolis, IN 46208
Type of Property: single family
Year Built: 1918
Square Footage: 2648
Number of Bedrooms: 4
Number of Bathrooms: 2
This is an old but well-kept (and pretty spacious) house with lots of space 15 minutes from downtown, perfect for a university faculty or students looking for an easy commute.
16 | Fort Worth, TX
What You Can Rent: 5249 Cedar Brush Dr
Fort Worth, TX 76123
Type of Property: single family
Year Built: 2006
Square Footage: 3611
Number of Bedrooms: 5
Number of Bathrooms: 3 1/2
Get a Texas-sized two-story brick home in a young quiet suburb, perfect for a large family with a large back yard and plenty of curb appeal.
17 | Charlotte, NC
What You Can Rent: 4708 S Hill View Dr,
Charlotte, NC 28210
Type of Property: multi family
Year Built: 1999
Square Footage: 1728
Number of Bedrooms: 3
Number of Bathrooms: 2 1/2
This is polished three-story townhouse in Southpark, with a pool, two fireplaces, and elegant front porch with rocking chairs in a quiet family neighborhood.
18 | Seattle, WA
What You Can Rent: 2901 10th Pl W #B
Seattle, WA 98119
Type of Property: multi family
Year Built: 1985
Square Footage: 615
Number of Bedrooms: 1
Number of Bathrooms: 1
This can be a tough market to find a decent place, but for $2K you can get this small, remodeled one-bedroom floor of a house in a quiet neighborhood, with a walk-in closet and full laundry facility with all utilities included.
19 | Denver, CO
What You Can Rent: 1610 Little Raven St #202
Denver, CO 80202
Type of Property: multi family
Year Built: 2000
Square Footage: 662
Number of Bedrooms: 0
Number of Bathrooms: 1
You'll probably want a place with a view in Denver, and this is a small studio near Millennial Bridge by the park and riverfront, it comes fully furnished and underground parking and storage are included.
20 | El Paso, TX
What You Can Rent: 7336 Autumn Sage Dr,
El Paso, TX 79911
Type of Property: single family
Year Built: 2014
Square Footage: 2677
Number of Bedrooms: 4
Number of Bathrooms: 2 1/2
Here you can get a very large two-story family home in the northern suburbs of El Paso near North Franklin Mountain, offering plenty of indoor and out door space and peace and quiet.
21 | Washington D.C.
What You Can Rent: 248 9th St NE #LOWER LEVEL
Washington, DC 20002
Type of Property: townhouse
Year Built: 1907
Square Footage: 575
Number of Bedrooms: 1
Number of Bathrooms: 1
This is a great location on Capitol Hill for this tiny one-bedroom with cozy open floor plan, heavy carpets, and washer/dryer.
22 | Boston, MA
What You Can Rent: 54 Percival St #2
Boston, MA 02122
Type of Property: multi family
Year Built: n/a
Square Footage: 920
Number of Bedrooms: 2
Number of Bathrooms: 1
This is a well-maintained unit in Dorchester, in south Boston, overlooking Ronan Park, with all basics, including shared laundry and a private porch and back yard patio.
23 | Detroit, MI
What You Can Rent: 13223 Saint Ervin Ave
Detroit, MI 48215
Type of Property: multi family
Year Built: 2004
Square Footage: 1590
Lot Size: 1590
Number of Bedrooms: 3
Number of Bathrooms: 3 1/2
This is a condo not far from downtown and close to the marina that offers the basics and has been lightly retouched; floors are carpeted, and space is a bit short on light, though.
24 | Nashville, TN
What You Can Rent: 3127 Long Blvd #105
Nashville, TN 37203
Type of Property: multi family
Year Built: 2006
Square Footage: 1240
Number of Bedrooms: 2
Number of Bathrooms: 2 1/2
This is well-heeled property in the gated community of West End Park with modern tastefully selected features, a walk-in master closet, and a fancy bathroom, only minute away from downtown.
25 | Memphis, TN
What You Can Rent: 1479 Pecan Trees Dr,
Germantown, TN 38138
Type of Property: single family
Year Built: 1969
Square Footage: n/a
Number of Bedrooms: 4
Number of Bathrooms: 4
This is a massive two-story house with a huge second floor balcony overlooking the front yard that has been lightly renovated.
26 | Portland, OR
What You Can Rent: 5040 N Williams Ave
Portland, OR 97217
Type of Property: multi family
Year Built: 1950
Square Footage: 1543
Number of Bedrooms: 2
Number of Bathrooms: 1
This 2-bedroom duplex is nicely renovated and has new kitchen appliances, and is located in hip Williams neighborhood, walking or biking distance from all the action in Portland.
27 | Oklahoma City, OK
What You Can Rent: 6327 Glenbrook Ct
Nichols Hills, OK 73118
Type of Property: single family
Year Built: 1972
Square Footage: 2850
Number of Bedrooms: 2
Number of Bathrooms: 2
In the fancy Glenbrook neighborhood, this place boasts some aged luxury, a very large back yard and is on quiet street near to restaurants and shopping.
28 | Las Vegas, NV
What You Can Rent: 845 Canterra St #2047
Las Vegas, NV 89138
Type of Property: multi family
Year Built: 2006
Square Footage: 1762
Number of Bedrooms: 2
Number of Bathrooms: 2
This desert villa home is on the outskirts of vice city and offers plenty of peace and quiet and luxury amenities.
29 | Louisville, KY
What You Can Rent: 123 Blue Ridge Rd
Blue Ridge Manor, KY 40223
Type of Property: single family
Year Built: 1960
Square Footage: 2066
Number of Bedrooms: 5
Number of Bathrooms: 3
This is a huge house with a slightly outdated interior in Blue Ridge Manor, a quiet suburb, offering great shopping in close distance.
30 | Baltimore, MD
What You Can Rent: Baltimore, MD 21228
Type of Property: townhome
Year Built: 1981
Square Footage: 1120
Number of Bedrooms: 4
Number of Bathrooms: 2 1/2
This is a refurbished Baltimore townhouse that has decent a amount of space for a city in a charming suburb near Patapsco Valley State Park.
31 | Milwaukee, WI
What You Can Rent: 270 E Highland Ave #836
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Type of Property: multi family
Year Built: 1901
Square Footage: 1117
Number of Bedrooms: 2
Number of Bathrooms: 2
Here we have a city center lodging in a Historical Landmark, walking distance from all the hip spots in Milwaukee.
32 | Albuquerque, NM
What You Can Rent: 8844 Desert Fox Way NE
Albuquerque, NM 87122
Type of Property: single family
Year Built: n/a
Square Footage: 2125
Number of Bedrooms: 3
Number of Bathrooms: 3
Walter White's home town offers a beautiful Spanish-style desert villa, with new amenities and plenty of space in far north suburb near Sandia Crest.
33 | Tucson, AZ
What You Can Rent: 11240 N Sawtooth Rd
Oro Valley, AZ 85737
Type of Property: single family
Year Built: 1998
Square Footage: 2009
Number of Bedrooms: 4
Number of Bathrooms: 2
Here we have a spacious home with some visible wear-and-tear in the interior, but it has both a pool and a jacuzzi.
34 | Fresno, CA
What You Can Rent: Le Provence at the Dominion
1325 E Foxhill Dr, Fresno, CA 93720
Type of Property: apartment
Year Built: n/a
Square Footage: n/a
Number of Bedrooms: 1 to 2
Number of Bathrooms: 1 to 2
Fresno offers one- to two-bedroom apartments in a mansion-like luxury complex with common pool, gym, beautiful gardens and all the works, on the northern outskirts of the city.
35 | Sacramento, CA
What You Can Rent: 6601 Folsom Blvd #3
Sacramento, CA 95819
Type of Property: multi family
Year Built: 2016
Square Footage: 870
Number of Bedrooms: 2
Number of Bathrooms: 2
This is a neatly built two-bedroom in a brand new building with balcony and all modern in-house amenities; it is also conveniently located minutes from downtown.
36 | Mesa, AZ
What You Can Rent: 2859 E Presidio St
Mesa, AZ 85213
Type of Property: single family
Year Built: 2013
Square Footage: 3201
Number of Bedrooms: 5
Number of Bathrooms: 3
This is in the north end of Mesa near Salt River and is a wonderfully neat home with plenty of space and great landscaping in both front and back yard.
37 | Kansas City, MO
What You Can Rent: 900 E Gregory Blvd #HOUSE
Kansas City, MO 64131
Type of Property: single family
Year Built: n/a
Square Footage: 1900
Number of Bedrooms: 3
Number of Bathrooms: 2
Kansas City offers decent location in Holmes Park with cosmetically renovated house, some new amenities, and the price is inclusive of lawn care.
38 | Atlanta, GA
What You Can Rent: 220 Semel Cir #178
Atlanta, GA 30309
Type of Property: multi family
Year Built: 2005
Square Footage: 1284
Number of Bedrooms: 2
Number of Bathrooms: 2 1/2
This is an upgraded townhome near the Atlanta Botanical Garden that has surround sound in every room and is right off Beltline path with trails and playgrounds.
39 | Long Beach, CA
What You Can Rent: 7 Bonito Ave
Long Beach, CA 90802
Type of Property: multi family
Year Built: n/a
Square Footage: 870
Number of Bedrooms: 1
Number of Bathrooms: 1
Laid-back Long Beach offers moderate amount of space and a cool location that allows you to bike everywhere or walk to the oceanfront. (listing gone)
40 | Colorado Springs, CO
What You Can Rent: 8270 Regiment Ct
Colorado Springs, CO 80920
Type of Property: single family
Year Built: n/a
Square Footage: 3100
Number of Bedrooms: 3
Number of Bathrooms: 3
He's a family house with modern look and classic layout with views of Pikes Peak.
41 | Raleigh, NC
What You Can Rent: 5129 Huntingdon Dr
Raleigh, NC 27606
Type of Property: single family
Year Built: 1967
Square Footage: 2250
Number of Bedrooms: 4
Number of Bathrooms: 3
This is in the western suburbs in a quiet family Avent West neighborhood, very spacious but slightly outdated interior, but close to plenty of shopping and restaurants.
42 | Miami, FL
What You Can Rent: Douglas
Coral Gables, FL 33134
Type of Property: multi family
Year Built: 1972
Square Footage: 48973
Number of Bedrooms: 2
Number of Bathrooms: 2
Miami offer a two-bedroom condo in Coral Gables that packs all the basics plus a balcony, gym, and a pool.
43 | Virginia Beach, VA
What You Can Rent: 8604 Atlantic Ave #A
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
Type of Property: multi family
Year Built: 1987
Square Footage: 2,300
Number of Bedrooms: 3
Number of Bathrooms: 2 1/2
This is a very modern and polished two-story family home with breathtaking lake view and walking trails nearby.
44 | Omaha, NE
What You Can Rent: 5112 Nicholas St
Omaha, NE 68132
Type of Property: single family
Year Built: 1926
Square Footage: 2000
Number of Bedrooms: 3
Number of Bathrooms: 2
This is a two-story colonial-like house well located in Dundee in good upkeep with all amenities near Memorial Park.
45 | Oakland, CA
What You Can Rent: 1090 54th St #2
Emeryville, CA 94608
Type of Property: multi family
Year Built: 1885
Square Footage: 720
Number of Bedrooms: 1
Number of Bathrooms: 1
Oakland offers this European castle-like home in the Golden Gate District near all hip restaurants and entrainment.
46 | Minneapolis, MN
What You Can Rent: 730 N 4th St #303
Minneapolis, MN 55401
Type of Property: multi family
Year Built: 2007
Square Footage: 1161
Number of Bedrooms: 2
Number of Bathrooms: 1 1/2
This is a ultra-modern loft near downtown, boasting a balcony, rooftop deck, gym, community room, and two parking spots.
47 | Tulsa, OK
What You Can Rent: 5926 E 76th Ct
Tulsa, OK 74136
Type of Property: single family
Year Built: n/a
Square Footage: 2979
Number of Bedrooms: 4
Number of Bathrooms: 3 1/2
Tulsa offers an extremely spacious house with high ceilings with a very rustic feel and a jacuzzi in the master bathroom.
48 | Arlington, TX
What You Can Rent: 4127 Timber Trail Dr
Arlington, TX 76016
Type of Property: single family
Year Built: 1996
Square Footage: 2517
Number of Bedrooms: 4
Number of Bathrooms: 2 1/2
This is a single story modern family home with a large well-landscaped back yard near I-20 for a speedy commute.
49 | New Orleans, LA
What You Can Rent: 300 Lake Marina Ave #6C
New Orleans, LA 70124
Type of Property: multi family
Year Built: n/a
Square Footage: 900
Number of Bedrooms: 1
Number of Bathrooms: 1
New Orleans offers a luxury condo with all the works and balcony with views of the Marina in a hurricane-resistant building.
50 | Wichita, KS
What You Can Rent: 2507 N Castle Rock St
Wichita, KS 67228
Type of Property: single family
Year Built: 2007
Square Footage: 2047
Number of Bedrooms: 3
Number of Bathrooms: 3
This is a very spacious home with two fireplaces, a huge back yard, deck, and three-car garage on northeastern outskirts of Wichita. And while you're doing your research, just make sure the appeal of affordable rent isn't luring you to one of The 50 Cities with the Worst Commutes in America.
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