Three Most Affordable Large Apartment Markets in September 2025

Out of the nation’s 50 largest apartment markets, three had effective asking rents below $1,300 as of September 2025. All of them were in the South region. San Antonio was the nation’s most affordable large apartment market with rents of $1,172 in September, according to data from RealPage Market Analytics. In fact, similar rates were seen in much smaller markets like Corpus Christi, Fort Wayne and Tucson. Memphis rents were a bit higher at $1,239 in September, while Greensboro was priced at $1,254. Just five years ago, prices in San Antonio were ranking ahead of Memphis and Greensboro. But San Antonio was one of the slowest rent growth markets nationwide between September 2020 and September 2025, with prices growing just $155. That was a five-year growth rate of 15.2%, one of the softest among the nation’s large markets. San Antonio’s 10-year rent growth pace has also been one of the mildest nationwide, increasing by $296. In comparison, Memphis and Greensboro rents were up by roughly $300 each during the past five years and by about $500 each in the last decade.