Portland vs. Vancouver: How big of an apartment can you get for $1,500 

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A $1,500 apartment in Portland is 161 square feet smaller, on average, than a Vancouver apartment rented at the same price, according to a new study by the apartment listing service RentCafe.

Of the 200 most populated cities in the contiguous U.S., $1,500 a month gets renters 729 square feet of space, on average, the study shows. That number is higher in Vancouver, where $1,500 gets renters 818 square-feet. In Portland, meanwhile, $1,500 pays for a 657-square-foot apartment.

Pricewise, Portland apartments align with Denver, St. Petersburg, Fla., Philadelphia, Pa., Sacramento, Calif. and Minneapolis, Minn. The best big-city rental deals are in the Midwest RentCafe says.

“If you’re looking for a spacious rental in a big city and you have a limited budget, Wichita, Kan. and Toledo, Ohio are your best shots at finding an apartment to match your needs,” the RentCafe report reads. “... Wichita offers a generous 1,359 square feet of living space for a monthly rent budget of $1,500. Also in the Midwest, Toledo came in second on our list of big cities with the best deals by offering 1,345 square feet for $1,500, which is enough for three or even four bedrooms.”

The South also offers more square footage at lower prices, the report shows. However, if renters want to live along the West or East Coast, they’ll have to pay more for less.

“Although the South and Midwest offer more generous terms, major coastal job hubs are places where renters on a fixed budget need to sacrifice square footage to benefit from the countless opportunities these areas offer,” ReteCafe stated. “In places like Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Boston, $1,500 per month provides entry into some of the nation’s most dynamic neighborhoods — albeit with cozier living spaces.”