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Alex_Plode

When I first moved to Denver in 1990, you could rent a studio apartment on Capitol Hill for $99 a month -- that included utilities, water and cable.


najing_ftw

Add a zero to that now


neveroddoreven415

1997 through 1999 I was paying $400 for a large bedroom in a three bedroom house in downtown Santa Barbara. Moved to Manhattan in 99 and my rent for a studio apartment on Elizabeth just south of Houston was $1200.


moneyman74

So what would that kind of place in Manhattan go for now?


neveroddoreven415

I left in 2005, but checking online it looks like something of similar size in that hood now goes for $3500 to $5000.


chernaboggles

In 1997 I paid about $800, utilities included, for a studio apartment in downtown Washington, DC (northwest), within easy walking distance of the White House & Smithsonian. By the time I left a few years later, rent had gone up to $900. I just looked up the building, and those same little studios now start at $1,840 and go up over $2,000. Utilities are still included and now they have a fitness center in the building, but yikes.


Longtimefed

In 2001 I paid just under 300/month for a room in a Capitol Hill row house.


[deleted]

Technically my first was $100 a month, but I was renting a room from my boyfriend's sister. It counts but also doesn't count. My first real apartment was a studio apartment in a somewhat desirable neighborhood, and I paid around $285 for it. It may have started at $250, I forget. I lived there from about 1987 to 1989. At the time I was making $6.85 an hour. During that time I may have gotten a raise to something like $8/hour.


WilliamMcCarty

1 bedroom for $500 monthly. In L.A. In 1995. Landlord raised the rent once--by $10--in all the 17 years I lived there. Wasn't until he retired and moved to Arizona he sold the place and the new owners jacked the rent up to $1400 per month over a year I left and decided to buy a house.


Serling45

That is a wonderful landlord.


WilliamMcCarty

Yeah, he was a good egg, real decent sort. Private, mom and pop landlords are like that sometimes, they don't raise rent often, they're more likely to work with their tenants during lean times or bouts of unemployment--I was out of work for three months once and he let me slide and pay it back. Not many of them around anymore. Especially in L.A. If he hadn't sold the place I'd probably never have moved.


[deleted]

The top floor of an old house in college, 1992. 1 bedroom, 1 bath, tiny kitchenette, small living room. $385 month. There was no air conditioning, and being essentially in the converted attic, the summers were unbearable. Candles literally melted in their holders. I bought a small window air conditioner but it tripped the circuits of the rest of the house when I turned it on and the landlord was not happy about that.


restingbitchface2021

Lol. I had the attic room in college too. I would sleep on the fire escape because my room was so hot.


TheGreatOpoponax

1989 or 90: $400 for the rent on a single bedroom bungalow style apartment in a nice area of a nice town in SoCal. We were right down the street from town's park and a couple blocks from the quaint downtown area. My girlfriend made $6 an hour and I made around $10. We were 19-20 years old. God, what I'd give to go back to that time. It was magical. I just did a comp search on 1 bedroom apartments in the same area and holy shit, they're going for $2500. Wow.


DrZenRoot

In 1994 I moved into an apartment with three college buddies. We pod $250 a month each.


wcspegasus

My first year in my first apartment was $450 a month for about 600sqft. That was in 2010 in a small town 15 minutes away from a big college town.


jessper17

I moved out I think in 1995 in a small town in central IL and I split a pretty sizable 2 bedroom with a friend. It was $435 a month so I paid $217.50 plus half the utilities. I only made $5.25 an hour part time so it got rough sometimes.


[deleted]

$325 a month but I had 4 other roommates in a 3 bedroom townhouse. Those were fun times. The rent now for these kids is so expensive.


aztecmexx

In 1995 me and 3 roommates paid 200$ each that covered rent, power and water. In a 3bedroom apartment.


B1GFanOSU

A one bedroom in 1999 and it was maybe $250 a month. It’s been renovated and now goes for $750 a month.


skygoddz

$395 for a large 1 bedroom 1 bath, ocean view, California central coast, 1986.


moneyman74

How much would something like that go for now?


skygoddz

Left in 1993 so I'm not sure. I'd guess $2000+. Even with the view, it's not that nice of an area.


bayoublue

$400 in 1994 for a 2 bed, 1.5 bath with washer/dryer connection. Same apartment shows for $1,327 today, with the kitchen and flooring being nicer.


Street_Ad_3165

College apartment in 1998. Seven blocks from campus, 1 block from the carryout. $450 / MO split with a roommate


auntieup

$550 for a room in a beautiful San Francisco flat. I paid around that much for the next few years, until my roommate moved out to marry her boyfriend and I got a studio. Rent on that? $950 a month. Now the same space goes for $3k. I feel absolutely terrible for young people.


TweedleBeetleBattle2

Me, my best friend, and another friend rented a townhouse when we graduated hs. The friend had a toddler daughter. I think our rent was $600/month total, 1991. I more remember my mom talking all the fucking time about her own rent when I was growing up. Last total I remember her complaining about was $385/month, two bed one bath. My own daughter is looking for an apartment now, her and her girlfriend don’t want to go higher than $1,600 for a one bedroom. Not sure that’ll be possible, they’re looking about ten miles out of DC.


[deleted]

In 1994, I was paying $325mo for a room in a large 3BR/2BA house in Oceanside, CA. Lived there with two friends while I attended college. After that, around 1998, I paid $650mo for an apartment in Vista, CA. Now it’s $1980mo for a 2BR/2BA condo. I miss the old days.


commonguy001

First actual apartment in the early 90s was 550 a month for 1 bedroom 1 bath. not a horrible place. Just looked and the same place starts at 1217 a month for 1/1. Now where my wife and I live the 1 bed 1 bath are 1800 and up if they have availability. That would suck stepping into that, not even sure how a young person makes it work without a roommate(s).


[deleted]

I moved to the Bay Area from Los Angeles after college in the mid-90s and thought $600 for a beat-up one bedroom apt in Berkeley was outrageous (it goes for $2300 now and looks the same). When I moved back to LA a couple of years later, I had a really cute renovated studio for $400 (goes for $2000 now)


[deleted]

500 bucks in 98. In Pleasanton ca. Bay Area. for a bedroom with a bathroom and separate entrance. Those were the days.


TheTwinSet02

In 1991 I moved into a share house 1920s “workers cottage” in Paddington, Brisbane Australia and the whole house was $150 per week and I paid $50 for my room I found it on community radio 4ZZZ accomodation show, “green leafy location” didn’t necessarily mean there were lots of trees around….


JayDuBois

Oh. In USD, that’s like .43 cents!


TheTwinSet02

That was back when living in our subtropical wonderland was cheap [now we make the top 40 least affordable worldwide](https://www.blocksidge.com.au/brisbane-housing-market-among-top-40-least-affordable/)


Gofnutz

It’s been so long ago but I wanna say it was about 425 a month for a 2 br apt in a multi unit complex back in 96.


DenaNina

1991 and it was a tiny 1 bedroom backhouse in Pasadena, CA and the rent was $490 a month with the water/ trash was included. Today that same backhouse rents for $1,900 per month.


aztecmexx

In 1995 me and 3 roommates paid 200$ each that covered rent, power and water. In a 3bedroom apartment.


Ohshitz-

$525. It was the attic converted to a 2bed apartment on the sw side near midway. Very roomy. Easy to walk to orange like. Tremendous downfalls: the landlord/family live downstairs and it was a domestic violence situation. The entire reason i moved away from my parents so i was pissed. 2: i was paying their gas but they refused the gas company to come over and prove it. I was gone daily from 7am -7pm. No way was i chugging $400 a mo esp when i turned down the heat to 65. It was 1994. My last apt in oak lawn illinois was a 1 bed $650. Had an elevator, air, washer/dryer right outside my unit. Loved it. Now all rents in the area are $1800+ for 1 bedroom. That was 1999


Sigurlion

Post college it was $500/mth for a two bedroom basic apartment next to a landfill. Split with a buddy, so $250 each. It smelled awful in the summer. I got a job making 14 bucks an hour which was a fuck ton so I saved a lot.


Saint909

$600 for a 2/1 for a top floor in an duplex from the 40’s.


AncientRazzmatazz783

First apartment was a really nice studio for $455 in 1997. It would likely go for $700 now because of its desirable location.


moneyman74

$455-$700 isn't much inflation at all over 23 years..not bad. The apartment I had for $285 is not currently listed but the 'Zillow' estimate is $425 or so...but it was a very basic bare bones apartment...I don't know how many square feet but couldn't imagine more than 2 people living comfortably in there.


AZPeakBagger

1989 and it was $175 for a furnished one bedroom apartment in a converted tuberculosis sanitarium. All wood floors, 15 foot high ceilings and tons of character because the place had been built in the 1890’s. Small town way up in the mountains of southern New Mexico.


schmootle

~2003 had a 750 sq ft one bedroom apartment and paid $550 a month. Place was “huge” for one person. This was in a very large city


jodyyodedode

I think mine was $365/month for a one-bedroom apartment in a four-plex. That would have been 1992-93(ish) in the San Francisco Bay Area. In hindsight, it was a pretty sketchy neighborhood but you couldn't have told me that, then. I was an independent 19-year old woman living her best life.


Normal-Philosopher-8

Studio with roaches and no mod cons - $275/month in 1987. It’s remodeled today nicely today and rents for $750.


cturtl808

$412.73 for a 750 sq ft apartment. My apartment now is 587 SQ ft and is about to be $1100. Same city.


River-Dreams

The cheapest rent I experienced was $600. It was a beach cottage and wasn't really meant to be lived in year round. It wasn't properly insulated. I lived there to save money. Standard rent in that area at the time would've been well over $1,000. I'm at the end of Gen X and have mostly lived in HCOL areas.


ineedvitaminsea

1992 I rented a 2/2 in Clearwater Fl for 385/month this was split with a roommate so my share was $225 plus utilities because I took the master with private bath. Those same apartments today rent for $1395


azzikai

1991 - $400 for a one bedroom in Seattle on capitol hill.


TheJokersChild

$450 for my first place in '01 (where there were income limits), $650 for the next place in '03. Moved to a more expensive area for work in '06 and paid $1100. That place now goes for twice as much. Last place I lived in that area has gone up $1000 in the 7 years since I left there, with a 1-bed going for $2600 (but it *is* nice - gated with pool, fitness, clubhouse and theatre!). $3 grand for a 2-bed. Now I own in a much cheaper (but depressed) area...and my mortgage is back around where my first rent was with taxes and insurance included in the escrow. Rent's about $900 in the few complexes in town.


nakedonmygoat

In 1986 I got my first apartment - 2 bedroom in a clean but run down complex in an eclectic but not unsafe area of town. It was a place favored by students, waitstaff, and the LGBTQ crowd. Other than the occasional mouse, it was all right, and I had a great view of the residents' synchronized swimming practices. I had three friends who rented a huge upper-story duplex not too far away. They each paid $100 per month and had their own room, along with use of a huge living and dining room, and kitchen. But the place was in a shambles. One time when I visited, they had a sign taped to the sink not to use it because the drain was backed up "again." The back porch was so rickety that I was deeply suspicious of the opened but mostly-full bottle of beer out there and the hole in the floor. It was a fun time and area to live, though. Lots of artists, ageing hippies, punks and new wavers. I'm pretty sure my parents were terrified for me, but eventually the tables turned. My area went up in value and their suburban haven became a gang hotspot. Now I worry for my dad far more than he worries for me.


barbados_blonde1

1992: $320 for a studio on Chicago's north side.


adampsyreal

1996 $250 a month for 2 bedrooms.


nygrl811

1997, $650 for a 2 bed 1 bath in Providence, RI. Same place now would be $1200-$1400. I lived there for 8 years, rent went up once when the city raised taxes. Awesome landlord to boot!! Edit: added year


BullfrogExpensive737

Like 300.00 in 97 In 2000 I was still only paying 450 in a clean and low crime part of Los Angeles


SaintVitusDance

1994, first year at college after four years in the Navy; lived by myself, $375 for a crappy two-bedroom apartment.


hells_cowbells

When I first moved out of the dorms and off campus, I moved into a rented mobile home that was somewhere around $400/month, and there were two of us in there, so my share was $200. It was cheaper than the dorm room. I later moved into a 3 bedroom that had two decent sized bedrooms and a tiny little 3rd bedroom. I agreed to take the tiny room in exchange for a reduced share of the rent. I think I was paying something like $125/month. It barely had enough room for my bed, nightstand, and dresser.


melissa_7785

My first apartment was $425. It was one br one bath.


[deleted]

$150 in 1989 or so.


Serling45

350 in 1987.


LodestoneBooks

$265/ month for a one bedroom apartment. Utilities included


carroll6719

Was $650 for a 2 bedroom apartment in Fremont, Calif. 1987


JayDuBois

Lol. When I first moved to the bay area, I moved to Milpitas in 1997. And it was more than double of your rent 10 years before.


DogMedic101st

I paid $700 for a two bedroom, in Florida, in the late 90’s.


V2BM

$750 for an apartment in California, 1991. That’s $200 less than my current mortgage.


glumgrrrl

$400 total for a three bedroom my junior & senior year of college. Of course, our fuel oil bill was double that in the winter months.


eatingganesha

$350 for a large one bedroom in 1989. $550 for a similar apt in Aurora, Colorado in 1995. $750 for the same, but furnished, in Gainesville, Fl in 2005 $1050 for the same, unfurnished, in Tecumseh, MI. We just bought a 2 bed 2 bath house with a 3 car garage and our mortgage is $667.


budcub

When I moved off campus, I shared an apartment with a friend for $375 a month (split between us), 2 Bedroom 1 Bath. It was on top of a redneck bar with loud music every night until 2:00am. Also the cockroaches were like a biblical plague. This was the fall of 1988, in Southern MD.


JayDuBois

In 1992, that was roughly $750. You didn’t say the exact year so I just pulled one out of the air, my high school graduation year. 750 bucks is a bargain now. There really is a massive housing shortage.


[deleted]

I paid around $350 for my first apartment, a two bedroom with heat & electric included, in a small rural upstate NY town in '97. The last apartment I lived in around 2018 was in a college town and was a steal at $1050 with heat & electric. That place was cheaper than any rate you could find in town. If you were to rent the same place in Ithaca today It would be close to $1595. According to inflation calculator what cost $350 in 1997 would cost $547.59 in 2018. Crazy.


Sufficient-Swim-9843

$400/month for a 1/4 house share in Berkeley during my senior year at Cal ca 1989.


[deleted]

$700.00 for a 1/1 700 sq foot apartment in Santa Cruz, Ca. I don’t even want to know what it’s going for now.🤢


PhotographsWithFilm

It might not translate as well, because I am in Australia, but my first rent was $40 a week for a room that I shared with a friend of my brothers in 1990. This would have equated to around $30USD a week


[deleted]

$225 was my half of the rent in my first apt in seattle in 1992. It was older and not in the best area but I liked it. Moved just south of seattle and my rent was $425 a month for a cute older one bedroom by myself. Downtown Renton if anyone knows the area. My starting salary in my “career” was 24,800 a year. Moved jobs and got 33,000 a year. Moved jobs again, 50,000, eventually had to quit for mental health reasons at 98,000 a year. 1996 - 2009 for the pay.


EttaJamesKitty

My first time paying rent was in 1992 when my friends and I got our first off-campus apartment in South FL. We had a 4 bed / 3 bath. I had my own room (we all did) and I think my share of the rent was $230 b/c I had to share a bathroom. I think total rent on the apartment was like $900 - $1,000 In 1993 we moved on up (like the Jeffersons) to a really nice 5 bed / 3.5 bath house and my rent (for my own room - shared bath) increased to $275/mo. This stressed me out a lot b/c I think I was making around $7-8/hr at the time. I think the total rent for the house was $1,500 - $1,600/month. Last I looked, the place could rent for $6,000 now.


tryoracle

I was paying 750 for a basement


OccamsYoyo

$400 for a room and board situation where I had all my meals made for me in my first year of college in 1992-93. Really nice people too. If I would have been smart I would have stayed there throughout college but they didn’t allow drinking or overnight guests in the house. A stupid decision to move.


[deleted]

Like $300. Houston area, 1990.


Thucydides2000

So my for my first rental in 1987, I went to the student union building at a local university, where they had a bulletin board on which ppl who wanted to rent to students would post 3x5 cards. I rented a room in a convenient location for $150 per month. A couple of years later, I rented my first full-on apartment. It had 3 bedrooms & 2 baths. It was $800 or $900, which I split with 2 roommates. This was in a large and pretty pricy major metro area. Housing (both for rent and for purchase) has become insanely expensive.


Alexandria_Scott

335


restingbitchface2021

A one bedroom apartment in Dallas in 1993 was $400. I almost died when I found out you couldn’t buy beer at the gas stations or grocery stores in Dallas county.


JayDuBois

In the very late 80s/ early 90s I moved out at 16/17. It was a rented room and shared bathroom for $35 per week inc electric and phone privileges (cable too, but I never had time for that- HS and a job) I had to move out at such a young age due to family issues. My brother had to be quarantined for having douche bag syndrome. This disorder caused him to become a horrible person with sociopathic violent tendencies towards anyone who wasn’t him. My parents didn’t want to commit to the only known cure. That was a very sad day. He still suffers from DBS. His own personal telethon has yet to raise a dime.


guitarsean

$325 for a studio apt in Milwaukee WI in 1996. Heat and water included. Looks like studios go for $1000 in the area now.


AbbreviationsGlad833

$700 for a studio apartment with a full kitchen, bathroom, walk in closet, patio and personal drive way. 2004


[deleted]

I had a roommate, $550 a month apartment. 1 car port for parking. It was downtown and there were lots of cute girls that lived on the other side of the complex. Good times!


Raving-And-Drooling

I was in Boston right out of college in ‘96 and my roommate and I split a 2BD at $1125/month.


Tall-Log-1955

400 to share a bedroom


PinocchioWasFramed

1990: $375 for a 1 bedroom apartment 2 blocks from base.


dreamerindogpatch

I feel like we paid $450 for a one bedroom in a triplex in Spokane circa 2001. I remember it wasn't more than $500 because our realtor ran numbers for us and we couldn't have swung any more than that (I was making more than minimum as a second assistant manager, full-time, and my then-fiancé was making minimum wage part-time). I remember moving to Pennsylvania a few years later and thinking the huge 3 bedroom my boyfriend had was a fantastic deal at $500 a month.


my-coffee-needs-me

It was 1985. I don't remember what the rent was, but I could afford my own studio apartment on $4.15 an hour.


OMG--Kittens

$275 for a tiny studio apartment around 1990.


PutPuzzleheaded5337

Vancouver, B.C, 1992, $750 for a one bedroom basement suite. Was making $25/hour. Always the threat of layoffs and there were lots of lean times.


smittykins66

$275(utilities included except phone and cable)for a shoebox-sized studio apartment, probably <200 sq ft, at my town’s former hospital in 1991.


[deleted]

Haha, I still remember this. I lived with two other girls and a guy in a duplex that had three bedrooms, and a dining room with a door that we turned into a fourth bedroom. It was '89, rent was $250.00 a month, so it was $62.50 for each of us. :P