Rental costs in U.S. cities with largest Latino populations: New York, Los Angeles, Houston

Renting a family home in U.S. cities with large Latino populations presents diverse financial landscapes, with New York, Los Angeles, and Houston offering distinct cost scenarios. A recent analysis highlights these differences.

New York leads the nation in Hispanic or Latino population, followed by Los Angeles and Houston. Rental prices vary considerably across these urban centers. Data from Zillow and StreetEasy, based on U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey, reveals the median rent for a two-bedroom property nationally stands at $1,790 per month, or $21,480 annually. However, costs for three-bedroom or larger homes also show significant disparities among these six cities.

The study defines "rental burden" as households dedicating more than 30% of their income to housing. Nationally, 49.7% of all renters exceed this threshold, a figure that climbs to 54.1% for families with children under 18. In the analyzed cities, the proportion of families facing this burden is also notable.

Furthermore, the percentage of families renting their homes differs greatly. In New York, 66.7% of family households rent, more than double the national rate of 31.7%. Los Angeles follows with 50.9% of families renting, while Houston stands at 34.8%.

Limited availability of larger rental units is a key factor. In July 2026, only 37% of rental offerings were two-bedroom units, and 24.4% had three or more bedrooms. Kenny Lee, a senior economist at Zillow and StreetEasy, noted that over a third of renters have children, and affordable family-sized apartments are scarce in most markets, intensifying competition.