In 1980 my first apt was $275. Now I pay $615.

1970 Rent controlled, 3 BR Brookline, MA - $147.50

True! You used to be able to rent an apartment till you saved up enough for a house.. now you can’t even afford an apartment.. these kids are never going to be able to afford a house! They’ll be living in their parent’s basement forevah! (🍀Bostonian here)

My first Oakland California apartment was $450 a month in 1990. Adjusting for inflation, it should rent for $1100. Now it rents for $2,400. The building hasn't been painted for 30 years, and the prop 13 tax bill for the 20 unit building is covered by just 1 apartment's rent.

Our first apartment in 1992 was $425.. and that was a lot then but every utility was included except cable. Our cable bill was $19.60.. 🙂

My first house was 31k all i could afford at the time, it sold 10 years later for 99k, dread to see what it is worth today!

I bought my home in 2002.im still in disbelief when someone tells me their apartment rent is more than my mortgage-$1200.rents were getting pretty high in '02 also,which was the driving force to buy my home.housing costs are off the rails crazy

And federal minimum wage in 1994 was $4.25/hr. It has less-than doubled since then. Last increase always 2009. Same with median wage. Less than double

The fact that corporations that own apartments require you to make 5x's the amount in rent monthly is crazy.

I think landlords need to be more transparent about their costs to own a rental, do they own it, what are the taxes, how much goes into escrow each month for repairs, how much is insurance? It would help renters understand who the folks are that are being honest.

~ ~ In the late 70s, when I was in my twenties, I had an office job, a one-bedroom apartment, a car and enough money left over for fun. Young people nowadays either extent their time at their parent's home or have multiple roommates. It certainly must seem to them like they will never get ahead.

2004, kinda of a hood-lite suburb outside of Baltimore. 1100 for a two-bedroom, actually kinda spacious apartment on a third floor walk up. Their cheapest listed price for a 1br now is $1,625, and they only give a range, so I'd guess maybe $2000 or so. So pretty much my monthly income full time.

Amen to that. I wish more people would understand what a striving is for the younger people coming up

Probably both but your point is valid!

My first year of college in 1975 was $5K--very expensive for the time. With inflation it should be about $30K. The 2025 tuition is just under $100K.

My first apartment in 1987 was $650/month. They rent for $1,900 now. There were horrible plumbing issues back then. I'm not sure if that was ever taken care of.

Another way to calculate the value of the dollar is how much gold it will buy. It is about 1/10th as much. Or, if your apartment kept pace with gold, it would cost ~$7000.

1985: Split $235 for a new two bedroom apt. That’s right. I wrote checks for $117.50 a month.

There are no year round rentals in my area. It's all 2nd & 3rd summer houses. Some for owners use most for may-oct rentals.

My first apartment in 1986 was $600/mo. How tiny was your apartment?