Rent prices drop for third straight month, even in cities like Austin and Phoenix—here's where they fell most

The rental market has seemingly flipped: After prices surged throughout 2021 and most of 2022, they've declined almost as quickly for five of the last six months, a new rent report reveals. 

U.S. rent prices decreased by 0.25% from January to February 2023, according to the latest data from rental listings site Rent.com. While it's a smaller decrease than in previous months, it brings the U.S. monthly average rent price down to $1,937 — lower than its August 2022 peak of $2,053.

As of February, 12 of the 50 most populous U.S. cities have declining year-over-year rent prices, according to Rent.com data:

1. Oklahoma City: -15.71%
2. Austin, Texas: -6.51%
3. New Orleans: -6.36%
4. Phoenix: -4%
5. Minneapolis-St. Paul: -3.5%
6. Dallas-Fort Worth: -2.56%
7. Baltimore: -2.21%
8. Houston: -1.91%
9. Birmingham, Alabama: -0.55%
10. Chicago: -0.52%
11. Denver: -0.34%
12. Virginia Beach, Virginia: -0.17%

Oklahoma City had the most dramatic decline, with year-over-year rent prices dropping by 15.71% in February. Prices there fell 8% between January and February of this year.

Even with the recent dip in prices, year-over-year U.S. rent prices are still up 1.7% as of February. However, that's a remarkable climb down considering that year-over-year rent growth was double digits for most of 2022. 

Raleigh, North Carolina, has seen the most growth, with a year-over-year rent price increase of 19% as of February, according to Rent.com. 

Why rent prices are falling

The biggest factor in recent rent price declines is a glut of new rental units in 2023, "the largest in 50 years," says Thomas LaSalvia, director of economic research at Moody's Analytics. Rental unit vacancies have increased slightly as well, he says.

Demand for apartments has cooled off a bit too, which has eased prices. This is due to an "affordability crunch" caused by high rent prices and an uptick in unemployment, he says. 

"This is very much a supply and demand story where demand is easing a little bit and supply growth is picking up," says LaSalvia.

With so much economic uncertainty, people are probably thinking twice about moving, especially those looking to move out on their own, he says.

"A newly graduated college student would be less likely to enter into an apartment market, or at least, go with a studio or one bedroom themselves," says LaSalvia. "In some of the higher cost areas, they might be thinking about finding roommates to lower costs."

Even with fewer renters seeking out new homes, demand is still strong enough for a slight overall increase in U.S. rent prices on the year. Moody Analytics expects rent price growth of 2.5% to 3% for 2023.

Barring a recession or unforeseen events, rent prices are expected to grow annually by a range of 3% to 4% in 2024 and 2025, says LaSalvia. That's roughly the same rate that prices grew in the years leading up to the pandemic.

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