Last verified: November 8, 2026. By Joe Bjorklund · How we check · Report an error
Key Takeaways
- The Bronx had the lowest median asking rent of New York City’s boroughs in Q3 2026, $3,233 a month, up 2.7% from a year earlier (Realtor.com).
- Existing Bronx renters paid a median contract rent of $1,291 a month in 2024, the lowest of any borough (NYC Rent Guidelines Board, Census ACS).
- Bronx renters are the most rent-burdened in the city: the median renter household spent 37.3% of income on gross rent in 2024, and 37.1% paid half or more of their income in rent (NYC Rent Guidelines Board).
- The Bronx’s median household income was $48,676 in 2020–2024, the lowest of the five boroughs (NYS Comptroller, Census ACS).
- The Bronx was the only borough where median renter income fell after inflation in 2024, down 5.3% (NYC Rent Guidelines Board).
- Passing a 40× income screen on the Bronx’s median asking rent takes $129,320 a year (NewYorkCostOfLiving.com calculation).
How much is rent in the Bronx in 2026?
The Bronx’s median asking rent was $3,233 a month in Q3 2026, up 2.7% from a year earlier, according to Realtor.com’s 2026 Q3 NYC Rental Report. That is the lowest median of the four boroughs Realtor.com tracks, $552 below the citywide median of $3,785 and $2,142 below Manhattan.
Bronx households already renting paid a median contract rent of $1,291 a month in 2024 and a median gross rent, including utilities, of $1,456, the lowest of any borough, according to the NYC Rent Guidelines Board’s analysis of Census data. New Bronx listings ask $1,942 more than the typical existing Bronx lease.
| Measure | The Bronx | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median asking rent, new listings (all sizes) | $3,233 | Q3 2026 | Realtor.com |
| Median contract rent, existing renters | $1,291 | 2024 | Census ACS via NYC RGB |
| Median gross rent (rent + utilities), existing renters | $1,456 | 2024 | Census ACS via NYC RGB |
| Gap: asking rent minus contract rent | $1,942 | — | NewYorkCostOfLiving.com calculation |
Why is rent hardest to afford in the Bronx?
Rent is hardest to afford in the Bronx because incomes are much lower, even though rents are the city’s lowest. The median Bronx renter household spent 37.3% of its income on gross rent in 2024, the highest share of any borough and up 0.7 percentage points from 2023, according to the NYC Rent Guidelines Board.
In the Bronx, 61.2% of renter households paid 30% or more of their income in rent and 37.1% paid half or more, compared with 51.6% and 28.8% citywide. Bronx median renter income fell 5.3% after inflation in 2024, the only borough to decline.
| Measure | The Bronx | NYC |
|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent-to-income ratio | 37.3% | 30.9% |
| Renter households paying 30%+ of income on rent | 61.2% | 51.6% |
| Renter households paying 50%+ of income on rent | 37.1% | 28.8% |
How much do you need to make to live in the Bronx?
Renting the Bronx’s median-priced listing under the 40× rule takes $129,320 a year in income (NewYorkCostOfLiving.com calculation: $3,233 × 40), the lowest threshold of any borough Realtor.com tracks and $85,680 less than Manhattan.
The Bronx’s median household income was $48,676 in the 2020–2024 Census American Community Survey, according to the New York State Comptroller, down 1.3% after inflation from 2019. A year of the Bronx’s median asking rent equals 79.7% of that income, the highest ratio of the four boroughs Realtor.com tracks.
| Measure | The Bronx | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income (all households) | $48,676 | 2020–2024 | Census ACS via NYS Comptroller |
| Income to pass a 40× screen on the median asking rent | $129,320 | Q3 2026 rent | NewYorkCostOfLiving.com calculation |
| A year of median asking rent as a share of median household income | 79.7% | — | NewYorkCostOfLiving.com calculation |
For rent-stabilized apartments in the Bronx, leases starting October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027 have a 0% increase under the NYC Rent Guidelines Board’s freeze. See rent-stabilized apartments.
Who provides gas and electricity in the Bronx?
Con Edison delivers both electricity and natural gas in the Bronx. Bronx gas customers are on Con Edison’s gas rates, which differ from National Grid’s rates in Brooklyn, Staten Island and most of Queens. Delivery rates are set by the New York State Public Service Commission.
What does it cost to get around the Bronx?
A subway or local bus ride in the Bronx costs $3.00 in 2026, and OMNY caps fares at $35 within seven days on the same card or device, according to the MTA. Drivers from the Bronx entering Manhattan below 60th Street pay the congestion relief zone toll, $9 for a car with E-ZPass at peak hours in 2026. See MTA fares.
Why do Bronx rent and income figures differ?
- Asking vs. contract rent. Realtor.com measures what new listings ask; the Census American Community Survey measures what households already renting pay, including rent-stabilized tenants.
- Different years. Asking rents here are from Q3 2026; the latest Census rent and income figures describe 2024.
- Household vs. renter income. Median household income includes homeowners; the rent-to-income ratio uses renter households only.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is rent in the Bronx in 2026?
The Bronx’s median asking rent was $3,233 a month in Q3 2026, up 2.7% from a year earlier and the lowest of New York City’s boroughs, according to Realtor.com. Existing Bronx renters paid a median contract rent of $1,291 a month in 2024, according to the NYC Rent Guidelines Board’s analysis of Census data.
Is the Bronx the cheapest borough in NYC?
For rent, yes among the four boroughs Realtor.com tracks: the Bronx’s median asking rent was $3,233 a month in Q3 2026, versus $3,744 in Queens, $4,197 in Brooklyn and $5,375 in Manhattan. Relative to income, though, the Bronx is the least affordable, with the city’s highest median rent-to-income ratio, 37.3% in 2024 (NYC Rent Guidelines Board).
How much do you need to make to live in the Bronx?
To rent the Bronx’s median-priced listing of $3,233 a month under the 40× rule many landlords use, you need $129,320 a year in income (NewYorkCostOfLiving.com calculation). Roommates can usually combine incomes. The Bronx’s median household income was $48,676 in 2020–2024, according to the New York State Comptroller, the lowest of the five boroughs.
How many Bronx renters are rent-burdened?
In 2024, 61.2% of Bronx renter households paid 30% or more of their income in rent and 37.1% paid half or more, both the highest shares of any New York City borough, according to the NYC Rent Guidelines Board’s 2026 Income and Affordability Study. Citywide, the shares were 51.6% and 28.8%.
Who is the gas company in the Bronx?
Con Edison delivers both natural gas and electricity in the Bronx. That differs from Brooklyn, Staten Island and most of Queens, where National Grid delivers gas. Bronx gas delivery rates are Con Edison’s rates, set by the New York State Public Service Commission.
Related: Compare the five boroughs · Manhattan cost of living · Brooklyn cost of living · Queens cost of living · How much it costs to live in NYC · NYC salary calculator · NYC one-bedroom rent · NYC move-in costs · Rent-stabilized apartments · MTA fares · Staten Island cost of living · NYC utility bills
Sources
- Realtor.com, 2026 Q3 NYC Rental Report (Oct 27, 2026)
- NYC Rent Guidelines Board, 2026 Income and Affordability Study (2024 American Community Survey data) (Apr 16, 2026)
- Office of the New York State Comptroller, Median Income: For Many New Yorkers, Incomes Not Keeping Pace with Inflation (Census ACS 5-year 2020–2024, Table S1901) (2026)
- NYC Rent Guidelines Board, Rent guidelines for leases Oct 1, 2026 – Sept 30, 2027 (adopted June 25, 2026)
- National Grid, Natural Gas Pipeline Safety: New York City service area (Brooklyn, Queens except the Rockaways and Con Ed territory, Staten Island) (Jan 2023)
- MTA, Congestion Relief Zone tolls (2026)
- MTA, Fares and tolls (Jan 4, 2026)