The Denver rental market has shown a steep rise over the past few years, but recently there are signs of some stabilization.

As of 2026, the average monthly rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in downtown Denver and major residential areas is between approximately $1,600 and $1,900.

There is significant variation by area, with premium neighborhoods like Cherry Creek or LoDo (Lower Downtown) often exceeding $2,200. In contrast, moving northeast of Denver or to suburban areas, you can find options in the $1,400 range.

One characteristic of the Denver rental market is the clear disparity between regions. Despite an increase in the supply of new luxury apartments in trendy neighborhoods like downtown Denver, Cherry Creek, and LoHi (Lower Highlands), demand remains steady, keeping rental prices high.

In the Cherry Creek area, the typical rent for a 1-bedroom is around $2,000 to $2,500 per month, and similar price ranges are found near Washington Park. Conversely, areas east of Colfax Avenue or Globeville still have relatively affordable options available.

A notable change in the Denver rental market is the increase in the supply of new apartments. Between 2022 and 2025, a significant number of new apartments were added to the Denver metro area, which helped alleviate rental price pressures in some regions. However, the influx of population into Denver continues, maintaining pressure on the demand side. Particularly, people moving from states with high housing costs like Texas and California consistently choose Denver, solidifying the structural demand in the rental market.

The price difference when moving from a studio to a 1-bedroom is typically around $200 to $400. Studios in downtown Denver generally start at around $1,200 to $1,500, while 2-bedrooms are about $500 to $700 higher than 1-bedrooms. If you have pets, a pet deposit or monthly pet fee of $50 to $100 is often added. Denver is seeing some strengthening of tenant protection laws, so it's wise to keep an eye on changes regarding deposit limits and rent increase ordinances.

If you look at neighboring cities like Aurora, Lakewood, and Arvada, rents for 1-bedrooms can be 15% to 25% cheaper than in downtown Denver. These areas are connected to downtown Denver by the RTD light rail in about 30 to 40 minutes, making public transportation access quite reasonable. If you're on a tight budget, it's recommended to include Denver's border cities like Aurora or Englewood in your search range. The Denver rental market fluctuates every quarter, so it's important to check real-time prices through Zillow, Apartments.com, Craigslist, and other platforms.