According to the August 2026 Apartment List Rent Report, Phoenix’s overall median rent was $1,257. For unit-level comparisons, the matching citywide medians were $1,077 for a one-bedroom and $1,284 for a two-bedroom. These figures provide citywide reference points, not a promise that every listing will fit every renter’s budget.
This guide compares current one- and two-bedroom inventory averages across six lower-priced Phoenix neighborhoods: Melrose Woodlea, Maryvale Park, Coronado, La Mancha, Garfield, and Sunnyslope. Use it to identify two or three starting points if affordability is a priority, then compare live listings and property-level costs. Required fees, utilities, commute costs, and included amenities can change your total monthly cost. Review required fees and other rental costs and, if transit affects your shortlist, check current routes and travel times with Valley Metro.
The table below ranks the six neighborhoods from the lowest average one-bedroom rent to the highest, and shows how each compares with the matching citywide median. Only two, Melrose Woodlea and Coronado, sit below the Phoenix median for both unit sizes.
Reading across a row shows whether a neighborhood's one-bedroom advantage holds at two bedrooms. That distinction matters most if your bedroom count is not yet fixed.
| Neighborhood | Avg. 1-BR rent | Compared with Phoenix 1-BR median | Avg. 2-BR rent | Compared with Phoenix 2-BR median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melrose Woodlea | $799 | $278 below | $1,096 | $188 below |
| Maryvale Park | $998 | $79 below | $1,533 | $249 above |
| Coronado | $1,048 | $29 below | $1,199 | $85 below |
| La Mancha | $1,169 | $92 above | $1,572 | $288 above |
| Garfield | $1,236 | $159 above | $1,699 | $415 above |
| Sunnyslope | $1,278 | $201 above | $1,455 | $171 above |
Neighborhood figures are averages from Apartment List inventory on August 6, 2026. Citywide figures are medians. These differences are directional benchmarks, not necessarily guaranteed savings.
We reviewed a candidate set of Phoenix neighborhoods and ordered these six by average one-bedroom rent. They represent some lower-priced options within that set, not an exhaustive citywide ranking.
Two-bedroom averages are included because the relative price advantage can change with unit size. Figures are reviewed monthly as rents and available inventory change.
As of the August 2026 Apartment List Rent Report, Phoenix's overall median rent was $1,257, down 3.7% year over year. The city's overall median was 9.5% below the national median, placing it near Houston and Arlington.
| Bedrooms | Phoenix median rent | U.S. median rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Bedroom | $1,077 | $1,220 |
| 2-Bedroom | $1,284 | $1,374 |
| Overall | $1,257 | $1,388 |
A lower neighborhood average can help narrow your search, but it does not make every apartment affordable for every renter. Personal affordability depends on income, unit size, required fees, utilities, transportation costs, and other expenses.
A renter household is generally considered cost-burdened when housing costs exceed 30% of gross income. Spending more than 50% is considered a severe cost burden.
Apartment List's February 2026 cost-burden analysis found that 51.8% of U.S. renter households were cost-burdened in 2024. The analysis reported that the Phoenix metro renter cost-burden rate rose from 46.6% in 2019 to 54% in 2023.
Use neighborhood rent averages as a starting benchmark. Add recurring fees, utilities, parking, renters insurance, and transportation costs before deciding what fits your budget.
The six profiles below follow the at-a-glance order, from lowest to highest average one-bedroom rent.
Notable features: Central Phoenix location near Phoenix College
Melrose Woodlea sits in central Phoenix along the 7th Avenue corridor and has the lowest average one-bedroom rent in this comparison. Phoenix College is nearby, and the surrounding Melrose district on 7th Avenue includes independent shops and restaurants.
The neighborhood's central location keeps it close to downtown Phoenix and midtown.
Notable features: West-side location within Maryvale Village
Maryvale Park sits within the larger Maryvale Village, west of downtown Phoenix. The broader village includes established residential neighborhoods, shopping areas, and two Major League Baseball spring-training facilities.
Check the travel time from each listing to your regular destinations because routes vary across the area.
Notable features: City-designated historic district in central Phoenix
Coronado appears on the City of Phoenix's Phoenix Historic Property Register, with a recognized period of significance from 1907 to 1942. You'll find a mix of bungalows, Spanish Colonial Revival homes, and Tudor Revival homes that defined Phoenix neighborhoods from the 1910s through the 1930s.
Notable features: Condo and townhome-style rental communities
Current Apartment List inventory in La Mancha includes properties with different building types and amenity packages. Some listings advertise pools or fitness centers. Confirm the amenities and required fees for the specific unit before applying.
Notable features: City-designated historic district east of downtown
Garfield is a City-designated historic district east of downtown, with a recognized period of significance from 1883 to 1942. Check the route from each listing to your regular central-city destinations.
Notable features: Access to Phoenix Mountains Preserve trailheads
Sunnyslope sits along Seventh Street in north-central Phoenix, near North Mountain Park and Phoenix Mountains Preserve trailheads. Renters can review current trailheads, hours, and closures on the City's North Mountain and Shaw Butte page.
Comparing seasonal prices and available incentives may help you reduce your rent or upfront costs.
When you are ready to compare current inventory, start with cheap apartments in Phoenix, then narrow the results by bedroom count and required fees.
Apartment List's guide to the best time of year to rent finds that rents are typically lowest in November and December. Local patterns can vary, so compare current Phoenix listings and advertised incentives.
If several comparable units are available, ask whether the property offers a rent concession or waived administrative fee. Review Apartment List's guide to negotiating your rent before contacting the leasing team.
Use Apartment List's search filters to narrow listings by budget, bedroom count, pets, commute, and amenities. Save promising units and compare their required fees before applying.
Use these rent averages to identify two or three neighborhoods that fit your starting budget. From there, compare available apartments by total monthly cost, commute, space, amenities, and required fees. Neighborhood averages provide a useful benchmark, but prices and availability vary by property.
Melrose Woodlea, at an average one-bedroom rent of $799 as of August 6, 2026.
No. It compares six lower-priced options from a reviewed candidate set, ordered by average one-bedroom rent. It is not an exhaustive citywide ranking.
Monthly. The neighborhood averages and citywide medians are reviewed each month as rents and available inventory change.
Total monthly cost, commute, space, amenities, and any required fees. Neighborhood averages are a useful benchmark, but actual prices and availability vary by property.
In unit laundry, Patio / balcony, Granite counters, Hardwood floors, Dishwasher, Pet friendly + more
In unit laundry, Patio / balcony, Hardwood floors, Dishwasher, Pet friendly, New construction + more
