Renters insurance rates vary by more than 4x between the cheapest and most expensive states. The table below shows MoneyGeek's 2026 average monthly premiums for all 50 states and Washington, D.C., across four standard coverage levels. Rates are sorted alphabetically; use the coverage columns to compare what you'd pay at different limits.
Renters Insurance Cost by State
Updated: May 19, 2026
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Key Takeaways
The national average for renters insurance is $42 per month ($505 per year) for $100K in personal property coverage with $100K in liability protection, based on MoneyGeek's 2026 rate data.
Wyoming is the cheapest state at $19 per month; Louisiana is the most expensive at $88 per month, for identical coverage limits.
Coverage amount matters as much as location. Choosing $20K in personal property coverage instead of $100K cuts the average monthly premium from $42 to $15.
How Much Does Renters Insurance Cost in Your State?
Renters Insurance Rates by State, Coverage and Replacement Cost
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What's the Average Cost of Renters Insurance?
Renters insurance costs $47 per month on average nationally for $100,000 in personal property coverage, based on our analysis. For renters who need less coverage, the national average drops to $15 per month for $20,000 in personal property protection. The table below shows national averages across all four standard coverage tiers.
| $100K Personal Property / $100K Liability | $47 |
| $20K Personal Property / $100K Liability | $16 |
| $250K Personal Property / $300K Liability | $97 |
| $50K Personal Property / $100K Liability | $28 |
These are averages. Individual premiums depend on your insurer, deductible, location within a state and any discounts you qualify for. A renter in central Florida with older electronics pays a different rate than one in coastal Miami with the same coverage limits.
Cheapest States for Renters Insurance
Wyoming has the cheapest renters insurance in the country at $9 per month ($106 per year) for $20,000 in personal property coverage, based on our 2026 data. The 10 most affordable states share common traits: low population density, fewer severe weather events and lower property replacement costs.
Data filtered by:
AK
10.23
106.17
Wyoming and Wisconsin are the outliers even within the cheapest tier. Both states generate few claims per insured renter, sparse populations mean fewer theft incidents, and neither state sits in a major hurricane or tornado belt. Rates in the 10 cheapest states run roughly 40% below the national average of $15 per month for the same $20K coverage level.
Most Expensive States for Renters Insurance
Louisiana is the most expensive state for renters insurance at $29 per month ($352 per year) for $20,000 in personal property coverage, based on our data. Florida ($24/month) and Alabama ($21/month) follow closely. Gulf Coast and Southeast states dominate the top of this list, driven by hurricane exposure and high claim frequency.
Data filtered by:
SC
29.32
351.82
Alaska ($14/month) and Massachusetts ($15/month) sit at the lower end of this group for different reasons. Alaska's remoteness raises replacement costs, while Massachusetts reflects high property values and dense urban rental markets.
Why Renters Insurance Rates Differ by State
Renters insurance rates vary by state because insurers price policies based on the likelihood and cost of claims in a given area.
Natural Disaster Exposure
States with high hurricane, tornado, wildfire or flooding risk see more frequent and more costly claims. Louisiana renters pay nearly 5x what Wyoming renters pay because the risk of a single hurricane claim dwarfs anything a renter in Cheyenne would typically encounter.
Local Crime Rates
Personal property coverage pays out when belongings are stolen. Dense urban areas with higher theft rates generate more claims, pushing premiums up. Cities within low-cost states can still carry above-average premiums for this reason.
Property Replacement Costs
Insurers factor local repair and replacement costs into personal property coverage pricing. In states where a replacement laptop or sofa costs more, claim payouts are higher, and premiums reflect that. Massachusetts and California both carry this cost-of-living premium.
State Insurance Regulations and Market Competition
Some states regulate how insurers can price and adjust policies. States with more carrier competition tend to have lower premiums because insurers compete on price. Thinly served markets where few carriers operate can trend higher.
Population Density
More renters in a dense area means more claims overall. Liability claims are also statistically more common in high-density environments, which contributes to higher premiums in major metro markets.
How Coverage Amount Affects Your Rate
The difference between a $20K and a $250K personal property policy averages $78 more per month nationally, but that gap widens sharply in high-risk states. In Louisiana, the same upgrade runs $73 more per month; in Wyoming, just $37.
$20K personal property / $100K liability | $29 | $29 | $10 |
$50K personal property / $100K liability | $52 | $52 | $12 |
$100K personal property / $100K liability | $88 | $88 | $19 |
$250K personal property / $300K liability | $102 | $102 | $46 |
Renters in high-risk states pay a steeper price for more coverage because the underlying claim risk is higher at every tier. A Wyoming renter upgrading to $250K adds $37 a month to their premium. A Louisiana renter making the same move adds $73.
MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP
Most renters underestimate how much their belongings are worth. A standard apartment with a laptop, TV, furniture, clothing and kitchen equipment often adds up to $30,000 to $50,000 in replacement value. Buying a policy with only $20K in coverage might save $27 a month, but leaves you exposed if a fire or break-in destroys everything. Before choosing your coverage limit, do a quick home inventory to tally what you'd actually need to replace. Our renters insurance calculator can help you estimate the right amount.
Bottom Line
Renters insurance costs an average of $15 per month for $20,000 in personal property coverage, but your state and coverage amount are the two variables that move the needle most. Wyoming renters pay $9 a month for that same limit; Louisiana renters pay $29. Most renters fall somewhere in the middle and are better served by a policy that reflects what they actually own than one chosen purely on price.
To lower your premium, start with bundling. Most major insurers offer 5% to 15% off for combining renters and auto policies. Note that California, Hawaii and Massachusetts prohibit insurers from using credit scores in pricing, so that discount lever doesn't apply in those states.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about renters insurance and fire protection.
Which state has the cheapest renters insurance?
Wyoming has the cheapest renters insurance at $9 per month ($106 per year) for $20,000 in personal property coverage and $100,000 in liability, based on MoneyGeek's 2026 rate data. Wisconsin ($9/month), North Dakota ($10/month) and Iowa ($10/month) are also among the most affordable. These states share low population density and limited catastrophic weather exposure, which keeps claim frequency and premiums low.
Which state has the most expensive renters insurance?
Louisiana has the most expensive renters insurance at $88 per month ($1,054 per year) for $100,000 in coverage, based on our data. North Carolina ($81/month), Florida ($79/month) and Mississippi ($79/month) also rank among the most expensive states. Hurricane and severe storm exposure drives elevated premiums across the Gulf Coast and Southeast.
How much does renters insurance cost per month on average?
Renters insurance costs $15 per month on average nationally for $20,000 in personal property coverage with $100,000 in liability, based on MoneyGeek's 2026 analysis. For renters who need more protection, the average rises to $42 per month at the $100,000 coverage tier. Your actual premium depends on your state, insurer, deductible and coverage limits.
Does renters insurance cost more in cities than in rural areas?
Natural disaster exposure is the biggest driver. States along the Gulf Coast like Louisiana ($29/month) and Florida ($24/month) pay far more than inland states like Wyoming ($9/month) because hurricane and storm surge claims are frequent and costly. Beyond weather risk, higher local crime rates, expensive property replacement costs and thinner insurance markets with fewer competing carriers all push premiums above the national average of $15 per month.
Why is renters insurance so much more expensive in some states?
Natural disaster exposure is the biggest driver. States along the Gulf Coast like Louisiana ($88/month) and Florida ($79/month) pay far more than inland states like Wyoming ($19/month) because hurricane and storm surge claims are frequent and costly. Beyond weather risk, higher local crime rates, expensive property replacement costs and thinner insurance markets with fewer competing carriers all push premiums above the national average of $42 per month.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut, is MoneyGeek's resident insurance expert. He has spent nearly a decade analyzing the market, first at LendingTree and now at MoneyGeek, where he has produced original research on hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.
He writes about economics and insurance on MoneyGeek so people can make coverage decisions with confidence. His insurance insights have been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR, among other media outlets.
Like all MoneyGeek analysts, he draws on independent cost and consumer experience data, and no insurance company partnership influences his recommendations.
Fitzpatrick earned his degrees from Johns Hopkins University (M.A. Economics and International Relations) and Boston College (B.A.). He began his career in financial risk management at State Street. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!