What Renters Will Pay for Central A/C

What Renters Will Pay for Central A/C

July 3, 2018

5 Minute Read

A hot summer night in New York might feel good if you’re outside. But inside, New York renters pay 11.6 percent ($275) more a month to stay cool with central air conditioning. It’s followed by metros known for heat: Las Vegas (10.4 percent or $135), Phoenix (10.3 percent or $141), San Antonio (8.1 percent or $108) and Houston (7.6 percent or $117).

The data comes from Zillow Research, which compared homes with and without central air conditioning that were listed for rent — or listed for sale and sold — from June 1, 2017, to May 31, 2018.

The national premium for central air conditioning in a rental is 2.8 percent or $40 for the median-valued rental. That’s higher than the national central air premium home buyers pay (2.5 percent). This is possibly because fewer rental listings than sales listings advertise central air. It may also be because renters are not able to add central air to their homes themselves.

Below is a glimpse at what renters pay to stay cool. See more data and an interactive graph of central air premiums in 35 cities.

Want to collect rent and utilities online? Now you can do it for free with Zillow Rental Manager.

Connect with us!

Learn how Zillow Rentals can help you reach your goals.

Stay informed. Stay ahead.

Access exclusive industry insights, market trends, and expert tips. Subscribe now to receive quarterly Zillow Rentals newsletters!

 

By pressing “Submit” you agree to receive email communications from Zillow at the email address you used to access this page. You also agree to Zillow’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

© 2025 Zillow Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All rights reserved.Cookie Preferences