Renters on a fixed budget face a crucial choice. Space? Or location?

And in these days of remote or hybrid work, the choice is not just between one neighborhood or another. There's another question: whether the desire to enjoy a lot more square feet for the dollar might even justify a move to a different city or state. In a new report, RentCafe examined the options for individuals with a monthly rent budget of $1,700 – the national average – by zip codes in the nation's 50 largest cities. It found significant differences.

The person who prizes space above all else might consider a move to Memphis. Here, on that budget, an apartment in zip code 38103, Harbor Town, would be "tight" at 982 SF, while an apartment in zip code 38109, the McKeller neighborhood, would offer 1,996 SF – the most in the nation. Indeed, four zip codes in Memphis rank in the top 10 for space. Oklahoma City might be another candidate. Three zip codes in the city rank in the top 10, along with Tulsa. Zip codes 78211 in San Antonio and 64136 in Kansas City, MO round out the list.