Listed rent rarely tells the whole story. Application fees, broker fees, parking, pet rent, and utility responsibility can swing the real cost by $200–$500/month between two apartments at the same advertised price.
Add up to four apartments below to see the all-in monthly cost, cost per square foot, and a normalized score. The winner isn't always the cheapest sticker.
Compare 2 apartments.
| Monthly rent | $ | $ |
| Square feet | ||
| Parking / mo | $ | $ |
| Pet rent / mo | $ | $ |
| Est. utilities / mo | $ | $ |
| One-time fees | $ | $ |
| Commute cost / mo | $ | $ |
| All-in monthly | $0 | $0 |
| Cost / sq ft | — | — |
| 12-month total | $0 | $0 |
How it works
For each apartment, we calculate: total monthly cost (rent + parking + pet + utilities + amortized fees), cost per square foot, and a 12-month total cost factoring in any one-time move-in fees. The 'best value' tag goes to the lowest cost-per-square-foot option, not the lowest sticker rent.
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Frequently asked questions
- What hidden costs should I compare between apartments?
- Application fees, broker fees (NYC and Boston), security deposit, parking, pet rent and pet deposit, mandatory amenity fees, internet inclusion, trash valet, and whether the lease passes through utilities or includes them.
- How do I compare apartments of different sizes?
- Use cost per square foot. A 700 sq ft 1-bedroom at $2,100 ($3.00/sq ft) is meaningfully more expensive than an 850 sq ft 1-bedroom at $2,250 ($2.65/sq ft), even though the second has a higher sticker rent.
- Should I factor in commute cost?
- Yes — and the tool lets you. A $200/month parking spot or a 45-minute commute that adds $150 in gas can erase the savings of a cheaper apartment.
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