U.S. cities where renters’ incomes go the furthest

For Shalonda Lucas, living somewhere affordable hasn’t meant giving up the perks of a lively city.

The 39-year-old recruiter lives in Surprise, Arizona, which was named the second-best place in the U.S. for renters to get the most out of their income by a recent RentCafe study. 

“I just love this area so much,” Lucas tells CNBC Make It. “Surprise is one of those cities that’s growing — new businesses coming might have more job opportunities coming into play, and it’s a very diverse city. It’s continuing to grow and expand, and I see a lot of people, even from California, coming here.”

Lucas makes about $70,000 a year and pays $1,795 a month in rent. Though Surprise is slightly more expensive than where she previously lived in North Phoenix, Arizona, she says it’s well worth the cost and she’s still able to enjoy the entertainment and shopping Surprise has to offer.

“It’s very affordable,” Lucas says. “If you’re looking for something luxurious, that’s more upscale, and you’re looking for a city where you want to retire, Surprise is it.”

Surprise follows Sunnyvale, California, in RentCafe’s ranking. In Sunnyvale, high incomes help make steep living costs affordable for residents. The city’s average monthly rent of $3,013 is well above the national average of $1,702, but renters there earn a median income of $145,723 — nearly triple the national median of $49,201 among renters, according to RentCafe’s analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data.

In Surprise, the average monthly rent is $1,781, only slightly higher than the national average. But similar to Sunnyvale, the median annual income among renters is also higher at $86,236, helping make it a relatively affordable place to live. 

RentCafe’s study compared median incomes among renters in 189 U.S. cities with local average rent prices to see where renters can get the most out of their money. Though the cost of rent was the largest factor in the ranking, it also took local costs of necessities such as food,…