Let's follow the case of a tenant who was planning to move from a one-bedroom to a two-bedroom in St. Louis. A budget was set. We checked what changes with each unit type.

First, we looked at studios. The average size is 480 square feet. Rent is around $850 to $900. There are many new constructions in downtown and Central West End. It's popular among single-person households, especially those working in hospitals.

We also checked one-bedroom units. The average size is 700 square feet. Rent is around $1,000 to $1,050. This is the type the current tenant is living in. It suits single-person households looking for independent space.

Next, we looked at two-bedroom units. The average size is 1,010 square feet. Rent is around $1,250 to $1,300. This is about $250 more than a one-bedroom. The calculations showed that having a roommate could actually reduce costs.

For reference, we also looked at three-bedroom units. The average size is 1,260 square feet. Rent is around $1,550 to $1,650. Most new constructions in St. Louis focus on one and two-bedroom units, so there are not many three-bedrooms available.

The gap between one-bedroom and two-bedroom units was not significant. However, the gap widened when moving from two-bedroom to three-bedroom. This trend shows that the less available a unit type is, the higher the price tends to be.

• Studio: $850 to $900 per month, average 480 sqft
• 1-Bedroom: $1,000 to $1,050 per month, average 700 sqft
• 2-Bedroom: $1,250 to $1,300 per month, average 1,010 sqft
• 3-Bedroom: $1,550 to $1,650 per month, average 1,260 sqft

This tenant ultimately chose a two-bedroom. Sharing the cost with a roommate made it less burdensome than a one-bedroom. For single-person households in the Korean community, this sharing method is definitely worth considering.

The decision to add one more room is, in numbers, simpler than expected. St. Louis is a market where these calculations align particularly well.