Rents in major metro areas remain elevated from pre-2020 prices but are slowly cooling, according to a recent report from Realtor.com. The median rent has grown 16.9% since December 2019. However, the median rent in the 50 largest metro areas dropped 0.7% year over year in December 2025, sitting at $1,689.
Despite continual decreases, the December Realtor.com data shows that low-income renters continue to struggle, as much of the rent relief since 2023 has been targeted at higher-cost units.
If you’re still paying too much or your rent represents too much of your household income, consider taking some steps to lower costs.
Also see six cities where mortgage payments are now higher than rent by a lot.
Negotiate Like a Pro
Experts said that rent costs may be up for negotiation, even if your lease isn’t up for renewal.
“A lot of it depends on whether or not the landlord owns the property and the cash flow,” said Tim Bowman, real estate investor at The Bowman League. “If the cash flow is small and he has a [mortgage], there’s only so much he can do.”
Even so, landlords typically don’t want to deal with a vacancy or lose a good tenant. “Your landlord’s biggest fear is turnover cost. Use that fear to negotiate,” said Mark Johnson, real estate expert and managing partner at Recruiting Insight.
Go in armed with knowledge, including the current market rates for comparable apartments in your area. “Then, highlight your value,” Johnson said. “Low risk, star tenant, always pays on time.”
Bowman agreed. “If it’s a good tenant, you want to work with them, because you don’t want to lose them,” he said.
Read More: 12 Midwest Cities Where Rent Costs 30% or Less of a Middle-Class Income
Check Out: 6 Safe Accounts Proven To Grow Your Money Up To 13x Faster
Know What You’re Asking For
Saving money on rent can look different from one person to another. Someone may ask for a rent freeze as they renegotiate their lease, while others might look at falling rent prices in their neighborhood and request a rent reduction. Be clear with your landlord about what you want.
“If your base rent is locked, pivot to other things like pet fees, trash fees, amenity fees, or negotiate the inclusion of a parking spot or storage unit,” Johnson suggested.
Offer Something in Return
You can increase your leverage in the negotiation by offering something in return. “You can offer a longer-term lease,” Johnson suggested.
You can also offer to pay several months upfront. Bowman said he recently saved a tenant $100 per month when she offered to pay upfront for nine months. “She came into some money, and she wanted to pay in advance,” he said. “It was advantageous to me to drop the price to keep the tenant.”
More From GOBankingRates
- Trump's $2K Dividend: Who Qualifies and How You'll Get It
- 12 States That Will Be Hit the Hardest by Medicaid Cuts
- How Middle-Class Earners Are Quietly Becoming Millionaires -- and How You Can, Too
- 5 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 3 Steps To Reduce Costs If You Are Paying Too Much in Rent
