I got huge sticker shock while looking for a place to rent when I sold my house in Seattle two + years ago. Sigh

My first apartment (in Irvine, CA) was about $1100/month and about 400 sqft., if I recall correctly. That was over a decade ago.

The last apartment I rented was around 2007 and about $1600/month for ~700 sqft. (also in Irvine).

I figured you'd be able to buy a Detroit city block for $1000 by now.

This may give a better picture as i assume it cover larger areas. http://www.apartmentguide.com/blog/rental-price-per-square-foot/

Don't forget houses. My parents sold our nest a lot more than they bought it in the late (19)70s.

A $1000 a month? My last apartment was 2 bedrooms and one bath. Not sure the square footage, but it was decent enough. $450 or so a month. Canton, Ohio area people, come. There's no jobs here, and it's Ohio, so that sucks, but rent is cheap .

My parents bought their house in 1967 for around $12,000. Paid it off finally in the early 80s, did NOTHING to it but general upkeep and the odd paint job. Got it appraised for just under $500,000 last year.

...but this is Victoria, so $500,000 is like, 900sqft condo area.

St Louis is comparable and there are lots of jobs and no Ohios.

My place there 3 years ago was $530/mo for ~700 sq ft. It took me 7 days of work to pay all my bills for the month.

If I knew I was going to end up in NJ, I would have stayed here.