The west coast is home to some of the most expensive cities in the US. San Francisco is of course infamous for its high rents, but Los Angeles and Seattle have become increasingly unaffordable for working class people as well. If you are on a budget and want to rent a one bedroom apartment for under $1000 a month, where can you look in Washington, Oregon, and California? Note that we are defining cities here as location with at least 100,000 people, so some places like Bend, Oregon and Redding, California just missed the cut. Bigger cities have larger housing markets and job markets, not to mention public transit, making them much easier to move to.

#8: Portland, Oregon

Average Monthly Rent – $1,523

Percentage of rentals under $1000 – 7%

Portland became a very ‘in’ city in the 1980s, and has had a steadily increasing population and housing cost ever since. At first the cost increase was modest and still much cheaper than other big west coast cities, and Portland got a reputation for being cool, artsy, and affordable in the 90s. This encouraged even more people from Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles to relocate in the 21st century, leading to increasingly high housing prices. Is it still possible to find an apartment under $1000? Yes, but it may not be easy, with the majority of apartments going for more than $1,200. However, rental prices seem to have plateaued thanks to a combination of downtown protests and the pandemic has lowered demand for apartments in and around the city center. There are currently some good deals to be found in the downtown, Goose Hollow, and Alphabet District neighborhoods. Portland has low violent crime rates, but has some problems with property crime, especially car break ins and bike theft, so be careful if you leave your property on the street here. On the upside, they have a good biking and public transit infrastructure, and one of the best restaurant scenes in the country.

#7: Stockton, California

Average Monthly Rent – $1,343

Percentage of rentals under $1000 – 8%

Stockton is not really a cheap city, but it is reasonably affordable by Californian standards, being cheaper than the likes of Sacramento and San Jose, while remaining close to the San Francisco Bay and El Dorado National Forest. In addition to being close to larger cities with all their cultural and entertainment opportunities, Stockton has a growing and diversified economy, no longer relying heavily on agriculture and light industry like it did in the 20th century. Like Portland, it is possibly but difficult to find a decent apartment under $1,000 a month, with some of the best opportunities being found in the Civic Center and Lakeview neighborhoods. Some of the downsides include hot summers and a higher violent crime rate than you might like. It also isn’t a very dense city, and doesn’t have a great public transit system, so you will want a car if you live here. 

#6: Tacoma, Washington

Average Monthly Rent – $1,450

Percentage of rentals under $1000 – 9%

If you love Seattle but can’t afford the high cost of rent, Tacoma is a pleasant city that is less than an hour away by train, bus, or car. There is even an express bus run by Sound Transit that only costs $3.25 per ride. It’s not too hard to find a place to rent under $1000 here if you are willing to take a studio apartment, otherwise you will have slim pickings. Tacoma is reasonably walkable and bikeable, and has a decent mass transit system, as well as many nice restaurants and shops. Like Seattle, it is located on the Puget Sound, giving the city a coastal quality that is especially nice in the summer months. The clouds and rain that are so common the rest of the year are not to everyone’s taste.

#5: Eugene, Oregon

Average Monthly Rent – $1,432

Percentage of rentals under $1000 – 11%

Eugene has some things in common with Portland, including a good public transit system, a liberal and educated population, a mild climate, and nice dining options. Eugene, however, is a good bit smaller than Portland, and has more of the feel of a large college town (it is home to the University of Oregon) as opposed to Portland’s mid-sized city vibe. Eugene is also a bit more affordable, and it may be easier to find an affordable apartment here, though you should be careful not to apply to student housing complexes if you don’t plan on attending U of O. Eugene can feel a bit isolated, being over 2 hours from Portland and having no other cities (or airports) within reasonable driving distance. Something else Eugene shares in common with Portland is a high property crime rate. On the plus side, it has an attractive and walkable downtown, and is a short drive to some beautiful forests and mountains. Eugene is one of the best cities on the west coast for outdoor enthusiasts.  

#4: Fresno, California

Average Monthly Rent – $1,244

Percentage of rentals under $1000 – 25%

Fresno is located south of Stockton along highway 99. Like Stockton and many other mid-sized cities in the central valley, Fresno used to rely almost exclusively on agriculture, but has since diversified. Fresno is located only about an hour’s drive from three national parks (Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia), which is rare in any American city, let alone an affordable one. Fresno is also bigger than Stockton, and boast a population of about half a million, giving it more of a ‘city feel’ than some of the smaller communities on this list. It still has an underwhelming mass transit system, but at least the downtown area is walkable and bikeable. Like much of California, suburban sprawl is a problem here, and the limited bus access to the outer parts of the metro area could make living here without a car occasionally irritating. It isn’t too hard to find a nice apartment here for $1000, but think about spending a tad more if you wan to live downtown.  

#3: Salem, Oregon

Average Monthly Rent – $1,149

Percentage of rentals under $1000 – 31%

There are not that many people who find Salem particularly beautiful or interesting. Its not exactly a punch line for Oregonians, but it is a city that lacks the sort of strong identity Eugene and Portland have. But if you don’t mind a city that is a tad bland and rough around the edges, you can find some good deals on apartments here, including some in walkable areas like downtown, Grant, and West Salem. There are apartments also available in less walkable neighborhoods like North Lancaster and South Salem, if you intend to own a car. Salem has a nice small town atmosphere, but is big enough to have the amenities of a proper city (and is a short drive to Portland for anything else you might need). It’s also close to a number of outdoor recreation sites, including Silver Falls State Park and the Oregon Coast. Salem does have some property crime problems, but at least the violent crime stats are low. 

#2: Bakersfield, California

Average Monthly Rent – $1,149

Percentage of rentals under $1000 – 37%

Bakersfield may just be the cheapest city in all of California. With warm weather year-round, proximity to Los Angeles and the Los Padres National Forest for weekend fun, and an average home price under $250,000, there is a lot to recommend Bakersfield. The city has some very nice museums and parks, including several along the Kern river that become popular in the summer. Bakersfield is generally an easy city to drive in, with abundant roads, highways, and parking. The flip side of this is that Bakersfield is an ocean of concrete and shopping centers with poor walking and biking scores. Car ownership is a must here, even if you live in the rather uninteresting downtown area. Thankfully the city is fairy safe, with some property crime problems but a low violent crime rate. Bakersfield doesn’t have the strongest economy, so unemployment can remain stubbornly high even in good times, so make sure you are working remotely to do some job searching before you commit to moving here.

#1: Spokane, Washington

Average Monthly Rent – $1,107

Percentage of rentals under $1000 – 45%

Spokane is probably the cheapest city on the west coast. Its also a pretty cool little city (with a couple of catches). Spokane has a nice and walkable downtown that features many interesting restaurants and shops, as well as attractions like an old steam-plant-turned-restaurant, a beautiful riverside park complete with waterfall, and the historic Bing Crosby Theater. Spokane also has a passable bicycle and mass transit infrastructure for a city of a bit more than 200,000 people, and a wide variety of natural destinations within a short drive, if you do decide to own a car. Spokane is a cool place with weird and artsy people, regionally known for its theater, food, and gardens. One potential downside is the climate. Being rather far inland from the coast, Spokane has a desert-like climate. While the summers aren’t all that hot, the winters can be long, cold, and dry. Most people also wont appreciate the sky-high property crime rate, which makes Portland look like Mayberry in comparison. Finally, the local economy is reasonably healthy, but small. Those with specialty skills may find the job pool in the Spokane area a bit too small for their liking, and Spokane is the biggest city for about 280 miles in any direction, making it feel a bit isolated for some.