Cash-strapped recent college grads: These are 10 of the most affordable U.S. cities to live that also have low unemployment rates

Young woman is using smartphone and smiling while taking a break from unpacking cardboard boxes in her new apartment (Credit: Getty Images—PixelVista)

• Finding an affordable rental can be challenging for anyone—but especially for recent college graduates getting their footing typically at a lower salary. Realtor.com, however, released its 2025 list of the best markets for recent college graduates based on average rental costs, unemployment rates, commute times, and several other factors.

Thanks to tariffs and inflation, pretty much everything feels as if it’s getting more expensive. Meanwhile, housing costs have been increasing steadily since the pandemic: rent is up about 30%, according to CoreLogic.