Residents of Just 12 U.S. Metros Can Afford Rent on Unemployment Insurance

Average unemployment insurance can't cover basic expenses in 69% of major metros. The South is the least affordable region for unemployment, and cities in California and Florida are among the most expensive to live on unemployment insurance.

News provided by

Clever Real Estate

Aug 26, 2020, 08:00 ET

ST. LOUIS, Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Unemployment insurance (UI) isn't enough to pay rent in most major U.S. metros, according to a new report from Real Estate Witch, an online real estate portal.

The study found that of the 109 largest metros in the U.S., residents of just 12 can afford rent for a two-bedroom apartment on top of basic expenses:

Springfield, MA
Worcester, MA
Spokane, WA
Toledo, OH
Dayton, OH
Cleveland, OH
Akron, OH
Des Moines, IA
Cincinnati, OH
Columbus, OH
Scranton, PA
Pittsburgh, PA

Although those metros are affordable on UI, people in just two (Springfield and Worcester, MA) have more than $500 left over per month for savings, emergencies, healthcare, and other necessities.

South Least Affordable on Unemployment Insurance; Northeast Most Affordable

The South may have a comparatively lower cost of living, but it's the most unaffordable region on UI.

Average UI payments in the Northeast are $1,738.32 per month, followed by the Midwest ($1,311.18), West ($1,249.65), and South ($870.81).

These rankings directly correlate with people's ability to pay rent: Those in 65% of Northeastern metros can afford a studio apartment on UI, compared to 42% of Midwestern, 25% of Western, and just 15% of Southern metros.

California, Florida Metros Among Most Unaffordable on Unemployment Insurance

UI doesn't cover food, transportation, and rent for a studio apartment in 73 of the 109 metros analyzed.

The top 10 metros where residents can't afford a studio apartment on UI are:

San Francisco, CA
San Jose, CA
Washington, DC
Oakland, CA
New York, NY
Miami, FL
Honolulu, HI
San Diego, CA
Fort Lauderdale, FL
West Palm Beach, FL

Residents need an average of $1,600 in additional unemployment benefits to afford rent and other basic necessities.

Read the full report: https://www.realestatewitch.com/expenses-unaffordable-on-unemployment-insurance/?utm_source=pr&utm_medium=prnewswire&utm_campaign=ui-rent.

About Real Estate Witch
Real Estate Witch is a web property of Clever Real Estate, the online platform that connects home buyers and sellers with top-rated agents at a discount rate.

SOURCE Clever Real Estate