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Average Rent in Downtown Detroit & Rent Trends
Rent prices and market trends across 15 apartment communities in Downtown Detroit, Detroit, MI. Updated daily.
Market Average
$1,834/mo
Lowest Available
$795/mo
cheapest unit on market
Communities
15
tracked daily
Units Listed
114
available now
Rent Watch: cuts and increases
Open Rent Watch →0 cuts and 0 increases among 30 comparable listings this week. Filter by bedrooms and budget, then inspect each building’s history.
Downtown Detroit vs Detroit, MI Average
Downtown Detroit is cheaper than the Detroit, MI average by $54/mo (3%). The citywide average is $1,888/mo across all neighborhoods.
Is Rent Going Up or Down in Downtown Detroit?
As of October 2026, the average rent in Downtown Detroit is $1,834 per month across 15 apartment communities and 114 available units.
The most affordable option is New Cadillac Square Apartments starting at $795/mo. By unit type, a studio averages $1,391/mo, a 1-bedroom averages $1,850/mo, a 2-bedroom averages $2,107/mo.
Prices range from $795 to $3,205 per month. The most common price point is the $1,400 range, where 25 units are currently listed.
Downtown Detroit Rent Price History
View as table
| Month | Avg Rent | Change | Properties |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | $2,183 | - | 5 |
| June 2026 | $2,111 | -$72 | 8 |
| July 2026 | $2,120 | +$9 | 8 |
| August 2026 | $1,939 | -$181 | 8 |
| September 2026 | $1,967 | +$28 | 17 |
| October 2026 | $1,803 | -$164 | 16 |
The trend line and monthly averages track each building's average listed price, recorded daily with outliers trimmed. The current month is a month-to-date figure, so it can sit above or below today's live market average shown at the top of this page.
Average Rent by Bedroom
Rent Price Distribution
Rent by Bedroom Type in Downtown Detroit
Rent Prices by Apartment in Downtown Detroit
| Property | Starting at | Average | Units | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Cadillac Square Apartments | $795/mo | $865/mo | 2 | 2.8 |
| Philip Houze Apartments | $1,000/mo | $1,516/mo | 4 | 3 |
| Town Residences | $1,035/mo | $1,035/mo | 1 | 3.9 |
| The Ashley | $1,200/mo | $1,550/mo | 19 | 4.1 |
| Detroit Savings Bank Luxury Apartments | $1,245/mo | $1,590/mo | 4 | 3.6 |
| Washington Park Apartments | $1,295/mo | $1,764/mo | 9 | 3.7 |
| eXchange Apartments | $1,310/mo | $1,641/mo | 4 | 4.3 |
Frequently Asked Questions About Rent in Downtown Detroit
What is the average rent in Downtown Detroit?
Is rent going up or down in Downtown Detroit?
What is the cheapest apartment in Downtown Detroit?
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in Downtown Detroit?
How many apartments are available in Downtown Detroit?
What salary do I need to live comfortably in Downtown Detroit?
Built on the 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
Minimum to afford average rent
$73,000/year
Based on the 30 percent rule, using our tracked average rent of $1,834/mo.
Comfortable income
$88,000/year
Based on the 25 percent rule, leaving more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($795/mo), you need to earn at least $32,000/year.
Median household income in Downtown Detroit is $39,575 , about 55% below the comfortable-living threshold.
Cost of living in Downtown Detroit
Overall prices in Downtown Detroit runs below the national average by about 2% (BEA Regional Price Parity index 98.2, where 100 equals the U.S. average). The breakdown below estimates monthly costs for a single adult, using national consumer-spending baselines from the Bureau of Labor Statistics scaled by Downtown Detroit's regional price parities.
| Category | Monthly estimate |
|---|---|
| Rent (market average) | $1,834 |
| Utilities | $400 |
| Groceries | $529 |
| Transportation | $954 |
| Healthcare | $466 |
| Other goods and services | $745 |
| Estimated total | $4,928/mo |
Population
636,644
Median household income
$39,575
Census median rent
$1,034/mo
Census rent burden
34.7%
Median age
35.1
Mean commute
25 min
Methodology
Rent data
Sourced directly from each tracked apartment community and refreshed every 24 hours. Every listed unit price on this page is real and listed today.
Cost of living
Estimates combine national consumer-spending baselines from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Consumer Expenditure Survey) with the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (MARPP dataset). Both are peer-reviewed federal data releases published annually.
Salary to live comfortably
Applies the standard 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income rule on top of the listed rent. This is the same affordability guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
Demographic figures
Median household income, population, median age, commute time, Census median rent, and rent as percentage of income come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year estimates, the most recent complete release.
Cost of living and demographic figures were last published in 2023.
Google Search Trends for Downtown Detroit Apartments
Search interest for apartments in this area over the past 12 months.
Search Interest Over Time
Explore Downtown Detroit Apartments
Browse all 15 communities with daily-updated pricing and availability.