US rent guide
Studio vs 1-Bedroom: Where the Price Gap Flips (July 2026)
Data as of Jun 9, 2026 · median studio and one-bedroom rent across the states we track
Conventional wisdom says a studio is the cheapest apartment you can rent, so renters on a budget reach for one by default. The data says: not so fast. We compared the median studio rent against the median one-bedroom rent in every state we track, and in a couple of them the one-bedroom is the cheaper choice. That is an extra room, sometimes for less money.
The flip happens in South Carolina (1-bed is about $173 cheaper) and Tennessee (1-bed is about $157 cheaper) and Georgia (1-bed is about $117 cheaper) and Texas (1-bed is about $89 cheaper) and Virginia (1-bed is about $63 cheaper) and North Carolina (1-bed is about $50 cheaper). At the other end, Arizona rewards going small: its studios run roughly $191/mo under a one-bedroom.
Studio vs 1-bedroom, by state
| State | Studio (typical) | 1-bed (typical) | Difference | Smart move |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | $1,510 | $1,337 | 1-bed $173 less | Get the 1-bed |
| Tennessee | $1,417 | $1,260 | 1-bed $157 less | Get the 1-bed |
| Georgia | $1,410 | $1,293 | 1-bed $117 less | Get the 1-bed |
| Texas | $1,199 | $1,110 | 1-bed $89 less | Get the 1-bed |
| Virginia | $1,663 | $1,600 | 1-bed $63 less | Get the 1-bed |
| North Carolina | $1,297 | $1,247 | 1-bed $50 less | Get the 1-bed |
| Nevada | $1,277 | $1,308 | studio $31 less | Toss-up |
| Alabama | $1,048 | $1,080 | studio $32 less | Toss-up |
| Florida | $1,475 | $1,539 | studio $64 less | Toss-up |
| Indiana | $1,034 | $1,099 | studio $65 less | Toss-up |
| Colorado | $1,336 | $1,425 | studio $89 less | Studio wins |
| California | $2,111 | $2,203 | studio $92 less | Studio wins |
| Missouri | $996 | $1,099 | studio $103 less | Studio wins |
| Pennsylvania | $1,352 | $1,500 | studio $148 less | Studio wins |
| Maryland | $1,451 | $1,600 | studio $149 less | Studio wins |
| Ohio | $987 | $1,160 | studio $173 less | Studio wins |
| Arizona | $1,100 | $1,291 | studio $191 less | Studio wins |
How to use this
“Typical” is the median across every studio or one-bedroom we track in the state, so half rent for less and half for more. The takeaway is simple: in markets where the gap flips, never auto-pick the studio, pull up the one-bedrooms too, because you may pay less for an actual separate bedroom. Where studios still win, the savings are usually small, so weigh the space you lose. Either way, sort by price and filter to your bedroom count on Budget Leases to see what is live in your city. Numbers refresh with our listings (last updated Jun 9, 2026).
Frequently asked questions
Is a studio always cheaper than a 1-bedroom?
No. In South Carolina and Tennessee and Georgia and Texas and Virginia and North Carolina, the typical 1-bedroom actually rents for less than the typical studio, so you can often get the extra room for free or cheaper. Always price both before you assume the studio is the budget pick.
Why would a studio cost more than a 1-bedroom?
Studios skew toward newer downtown and midrise buildings aimed at young professionals, while one-bedrooms include a lot of older, larger suburban stock. In markets like Austin and Atlanta that mix pushes the studio median above the one-bedroom median.
Where is a studio actually the better deal?
Arizona, where the typical studio runs about $191 a month less than a one-bedroom, the biggest real studio discount of the states we track.
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Most Apartment for Your Money: Best Square-Footage Value
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National · Rent data
How Much Each Extra Bedroom Costs, by State
The real rent ladder studio→3-bed in each state, and the quirk where a studio costs more than a one-bed.
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