10 States Where Rent Increased More Than 6% This Year (#1 Will Surprise You)

The good news? Rental prices are going down nationally. According to real estate website Rent., rental prices dropped for the first time in six months this past September, with the median cost of rent now at $2,011 a month. 

The bad news? Some states haven’t seen a slowdown, with rental prices continuing to rise compared to a year earlier. And with some states increasing by double digits, renters may be forced to find ways to help pay rent as prices increase.

So where can you expect to pay a steep price? Here are the top 10 priciest states for rentals.

Illinois rounded out the top 10 with a 6.85% increase year-over-year. According to Rent., residents can expect to pay a median price of $2,019 a month.

Surprisingly, Chicago saw rent drop nearly 2% since this time last year. However, that doesn't mean the rent is cheap: renters can expect to drop a median price of $2,389 a month. If you're thinking about living in the Windy City, consider a few ways to supplement your income to ensure you can afford it.

New Hampshire is the only New England state in the top 10, coming in with a 7.38% increase in rent compared to this time a year earlier. If you rent here, expect to pay a median rental price of $1,987.

Wisconsin's median rent increased by 8.95% this month compared to the same time last year. Median rent is now $1,534 per month, with Milwaukee being slightly higher at $1,702 a month. 

Rent also went up for Kansas residents 8.99%, with Rent. reporting a median monthly rent of $1,207. Compared to last months rent, though, prices only increased less than 1%. 

Minnesota residents also saw an increase in rental prices compared to last year, with the median price jumping to $1,599 a month.

If you're looking to save money renting in the state, you'll want to consider outside popular metro areas. In Minneapolis, for instance, renters can expect to pay more than other residents, with the median rent at $1,836.

North Dakota is a state that has seen one of the largest increases. Rent is now 9.58% higher than it was a year ago. Residents can expect to pay a median of $1,067 in rent, which although low compared to the national median, still puts the state in the top 10 for rent increases.

New York continues to see rent increase, with an 11.28% rise this year compared to last. The state has the fourth-highest rate increase in the country, with renters expecting to spend $2,762 a month.

Rounding out the top three is South Dakota, where residents are experiencing a rent increase of 11.32% in year-over-year. But there may be some good news: prices declined 1.91% within the last month.

Surprisingly, Iowa made the list as the state with the second-highest rent increase since this time last year. Prices jumped an astounding $12.13%, with renters paying a median rent of $1,158 a month. 

And the place where renters are facing the biggest increase in rent? Mississippi, where rent has increased an astounding 15.86% since this time last year. The median price for rent in the state now stands at $1,175.

And although it's lower than the national median rent, you still might want to reconsider the area if you're struggling to make your monthly payment.

It can be tough to live in an area where rent prices are continuing to rise, and you wonder what to do if you’re scraping by.

If you’re considering moving to a state where housing is expensive, be sure to create a budget that takes the local cost of living into consideration. You may also want to consider a side hustle to make some extra cash to pay for rent.