T
he winter months tend to be a slower time for the rental market, with fewer people moving and landlords often cutting prices to fill vacancies. According to a recent report from Zumper, apartment prices remained flat in November, but may decline in early 2025 as landlords try to attract renters. The cost of one-bedroom apartments was $1,534 on average, while two-bedroom setups were down 0.4% from October at $1,902.

    This stagnation suggests that the long-standing stalemate between landlords and tenants is continuing, with property managers potentially having to cut prices or offer concessions to fill units before the holidays. One unusual perk being offered by some landlords is free groceries for a year, as noted by Zumper researchers.

    Despite this, apartment prices remain 2.3% to 2.5% higher than they were a year ago, according to Zumper. However, if price growth continues to slow next year, interest rates may tick down, benefiting homebuyers and potentially renters as well.

    Here are 12 cities where rent is affordable and on the decline:

    1. Akron, Ohio: -1.3% year-over-year change, $750 median rent

    2. Tucson, Arizona: -2.2% year-over-year change, $900 median rent

    3. Albuquerque, New Mexico: -2.1% year-over-year change, $930 median rent

    4. Spokane, Washington: -6.4% year-over-year change, $1,030 median rent

    5. Milwaukee, Wisconsin: -3.7% year-over-year change, $1,040 median rent

    6. Arlington, Texas: -2.7% year-over-year change, $1,070 median rent

    7. Kansas City, Missouri: -2.7% year-over-year change, $1,100 median rent

    8. Las Vegas, Nevada: -4% year-over-year change, $1,190 median rent

    9. Jacksonville, Florida: -5.5% year-over-year change, $1,200 median rent

    10. Houston, Texas: -4.6% year-over-year change, $1,240 median rent

    11. Raleigh, North Carolina: -3.8% year-over-year change, $1,250 median rent

    12. Fort Worth, Texas: -2.3% year-over-year change, $1,270 median rent