Detroit Rents Are Staying the Same

Rents in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metro are essentially holding steady as 2025 comes to a close, offering renters a rare moment of stability.

The Realtor.com® November 2025 Rental Report shows that while many large metros are still seeing rents fall—or rise—Detroit’s market has settled into a near-flat pattern.

That pause provides predictability, even as affordability remains a concern for many households.

Detroit rents level off, keeping pressure in check

Detroit, Michigan posted a 0.2% year-over-year increase in median asking rent for 0- to 2-bedroom units in November. It's stayed fairly even at a price of $1,327 per month.

For lower-wage households, that stability matters. Two minimum-wage earners in the Detroit area would each need to work about 50 hours per week to afford the median rental while keeping housing costs at 30% of income. While still above a standard full-time schedule, Detroit’s affordability picture is less severe than in many markets that rely solely on the federal minimum wage.

Looking ahead, Detroit stands out for another reason. Scheduled minimum-wage increases in Michigan are set to improve affordability in 2026, reducing the number of hours minimum-wage earners would need to work to afford rent to 39 per person.

National rents keep falling, highlighting Detroit’s steadiness

Detroit’s flat performance contrasts with the broader national trend. Across the 50 largest U.S. metros, the median asking rent fell to $1,693 in November, down 1% from a year earlier. That marked the 28th consecutive month of year-over-year rent declines nationwide.

The slowdown has been consistent across unit sizes. Studio rents are down 0.4% year over year, while 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom units each declined about 1%. Economists note that studios tend to respond more quickly to shifts in demand, so their near-flat trend may indicate stabilizing renter behavior, even as larger units continue to soften.

Even with falling rents nationally, prices remain elevated compared with pre-pandemic levels. National asking rents are still 17.2% higher than they were in November 2019, reinforcing why affordability remains the central theme of the rental market in 2025. Flat markets like Detroit offer relief, but not a full reset.

Minimum-wage affordability underscores that divide. Only five of the 50 largest metros allow two minimum-wage earners to afford the median rental without overtime. Detroit is not yet in that group, but upcoming wage increases are poised to move the market closer to that threshold.

Is renting cheaper than buying in Detroit?

With rents holding steady, renting remains cheaper than buying a home on a monthly basis. Nationally, the median rent of $1,693 in November sits well below the typical monthly mortgage payment of about $2,040. That gap continues to make renting the more accessible option for many households, reflecting the broader rent vs buy dynamic seen nationwide.

The difference, however, is narrowing. Lower mortgage rates are improving affordability for buyers, even as rents remain elevated or flat in markets like Detroit. “Rent continues to fall in many of the major metros across the United States for a variety of reasons,” says Joel Berner senior economist at Realtor.com®, pointing to the ongoing correction after the dramatic rent increases of 2021 and 2022.

For Detroit-area renters, the decision between renting and buying often comes down to stability and long-term planning. Renting still offers the lower monthly commitment, while relatively moderate home prices may make ownership appealing for financially prepared households.

This article was produced with editorial input from Dina Sartore-Bodo and Gabriella Iannetta.