Multifamily rental competition in early 2026 should be easing, in theory
Each quarter, RentCafe releases its Rental Competitiveness Report to share how markets are comparing against one another for apartment hunters nation-wide. As of early 2026, the U.S. competitiveness score (a ranking calculated from five factors that determine how hard it is to find and land an apartment) dipped to 75.4 RCI (Rental Competitiveness Index).
This is just 0.3 points lower than last year, indicating that finding an apartment should be getting easier—in theory. A score above 70 shows that it is still "considerably tough" for renters to find housing, according to RentCafe. Additionally, the average does not take into account the wide range of differences between cities.
What Does the RentCafe Rental Competitiveness Index (RCI) Measure?
The Rental Competitiveness Index (RCI) measures five factors across 139 of the largest U.S. markets:
- How long it takes for an apartment to be filled
- The percentage of apartments that are occupied
- How many people are competing for each apartment vacancy
- How many renters choose to renew their leases
- How much new construction is hitting the market
The higher the score, the harder it is to get an apartment.
Where is it Hardest to Rent in Early 2026?
Major metros such as Chicago, Ill., San Francisco, Calif., and Atlanta, Ga., are among the most competitive cities in the country for renters in early 2026.
Chicago saw its competitiveness score surge 9.5 points year-over-year (YoY), up to 88.8 RCI. For San Francisco and Atlanta, their scores jumped 6.1 and 6.0 points YoY, landing them squarely at 77 and 75.9 RCI, respectively.
"These markets aren’t just competitive—they’re going against the national trend and getting more competitive faster than anywhere else in the country," the report states.
However, one metro has all the others beat. Miami, Fla., is the toughest market to rent in, with an RCI score of 90.5. On average, about 13 renters are competing for every available apartment in the city and 96% of units are already taken.
Other Key Takeaways Noted in the 2026 RentCafe RCI Report
RentCafe has noted several takeaways from its early 2026 report, including:
- Major tech hubs are gaining heat the fastest. Compared to early 2025, metros like Chicago, San Francisco, Atlanta, and Silicon Valley, are all among the hardest places to find rentals.
- Lease renewals tell a big story. Midwestern metros are where around eight out of 10 renters hold onto their current rentals—saving little room for others.
- Small cities offer few alternatives. Cities like Wichita, Kan., and Amarillo, Texas, stand out among the smaller markets as having the biggest RCI increases year-over-year.
To read the full findings of the Rental Competitiveness Report, visit RentCafe.
About the Author
Quinn Purcell
Quinn Purcell is the Managing Editor for Building Design+Construction. He is a graduate of Idaho State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, and an emphasis in Multiplatform Journalism. He specializes in video, photography, copywriting, feature writing, and graphic design.