New York City's boroughs are among the least affordable for renters in the United States, according to RentCafe's 2026 ranking of the 150 best cities for renters. Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn all placed near the bottom of the list, which evaluated 20 metrics across housing costs, the local economy, and quality of life.
Manhattan ranked 137th overall, with Queens at 147th and Brooklyn at 148th. These low rankings were primarily driven by the extremely high cost of housing and living expenses in the city. Manhattan, in particular, was last in the nation for housing and cost of living, with expenses 138.9% above the national average. Apartments in Manhattan average 759 square feet.
Despite the financial burden, Manhattan scored highly in other areas, ranking third nationwide for quality of life. This is attributed to its abundant amenities, proximity to transit, green spaces, and walkability, with 61.1% of residents utilizing public transit or walking. The borough also placed 25th for school quality and 33rd for its local economy, indicated by a high rate of business applications and a highly educated population.
Brooklyn, ranking 148th overall, also struggled with affordability, coming in 149th for housing and cost of living. The cost of living is 63.9% above the national average, with apartments averaging 735 square feet. However, Brooklyn showed promise with 15.6% of its apartment stock being new and a significant 39.1% surge in renter incomes over five years, the highest growth among the three boroughs. Brooklyn also performed better in quality of life, ranking 58th nationally, with 55% of its residents using public transit.
Queens secured the 147th position overall. While it was the least expensive of the three boroughs, its cost of living still exceeded the national average by 53.8%. Apartments in Queens are the smallest, averaging 730 square feet. The borough did, however, receive strong marks for public transit and walkability, ranking third nationally in this category, and 22nd for school quality.
Across New York state, Albany performed best for renters, ranking 64th nationally. Buffalo followed at 131st, and Rochester at 134th. The study highlights a persistent trade-off for New York City renters: access to world-class public transit and urban amenities comes with a significant financial cost.