15 Cheapest Cities to Rent an Office in the US

The COVID-19 era has changed the pattern in which we carry out our jobs. Now you don’t necessarily have to be within the organization to carry out your daily work activities. And rather than working directly from homes, there are dedicated offices you could maximise.

These offices are available within many cities in the US and they could potentially help improve your company's productivity, development and growth. Whether you need just a simple office desk to complete a project within a time or you wish to rent a large office space for your employees, there is a lot to check out.

In this guide, Foundeck examined 15 cheapest cities to rent an office in the US.

1. Miami, Florida.

If you’re located in Florida and you’re considering an office space to rent, then exploring Miami could be a good choice. The city has rapidly been growing to accommodate more tech companies. Not only that, so many office spaces are now available following the COVID period. Miami has been considered one of the most diverse cities with growing and innovative tech companies. It is thus easier to find many office investors building their start-ups in this area. Office costs around $9 per square foot per year for industrial space, metropolitan offices could cost about $45 or more.

2. Dallas

Dallas remains one of the best communities with highly established working spaces. Not only that, there are also many locally owned office spaces within the cities. With plenty of small businesses, entrepreneurs and freelancers around, it’s easier to get an office space at a cheap rate. Most of these spaces feature collaborative work environments, 24/7 access, mail services, high internet speed, CCTV, cafe and lounge, meeting rooms and so on. While you could get office rent for as low as $5 per square foot per year in some industrial space, you would also be able to rent at the rate of $35 per square foot per year for a metropolitan area.

3. Boston

Boston is one of the rapidly growing cities in terms of technology and it therefore remains one of the best cities for start-ups. Whether you want just a desk space or an entire office for your team, you will get a range of office spaces in Boston. You'll find many offices with amenities like high-speed Wi-Fi, business-class printers, air conditioning, meeting rooms, meal centers, lounge areas and many more. Although Boston has been recognized as one of the most expensive cities in the US, you'll find relatively cheap office spaces that meet your target. On average, you would find office space with the cost of $10 per square foot per year. If you, however, like to focus on the metropolitan, it could range from $40 per square foot per year.

4. Atlanta

Atlanta is a main hub for many freelancers, entrepreneurs, and small businesses. With the COVID-19 restriction that happened a few years ago, you’d find many businesses in Atlanta carrying out their operations remotely. You’ll find many office spaces with mail services, event spaces, free parking spaces, online learning centers, lunch and dinner treatments, 24/7 security, access to Wi-Fi, a printing machine, office facilities and many more. With $5 per square foot per year, you’ll be able to rent an office space in some areas of Atlanta. You could find office spaces in Downtown Atlanta cost an average of $30 per square foot per year.

5. Rochester, New York

With a population of more than 210,000 individuals, Rochester has so many available vacant office spaces. It is approximately a 5-hour drive from New York City. So whether you are located in Rochester or a nearby city, you would be able to find a coworking office space. You could find space with both a single desk and one for teams. Many offices have 24/7 Wi-Fi, parking space, meeting rooms, cleaning services, printing and scanning services and a lot more. Office space in Rochester costs about $20 per square foot per year.

6. Los Angeles

There is quite a lot of office space in Los Angeles with different price ranges. Although you’d find some space to be more expensive than others however, there are many choices to suit everyone. You’d find many dedicated offices with private space, technological facilities, meeting and conference rooms and many other amenities including phone booths, office supplies, secured Wi-Fi and many more. Prices of office areas range from $44 per square foot per year for highly developed cities. You could, however, still get office space within the range of $11 per square foot per year in some locations in Los Angeles.

7. Philadelphia

Colloquially known as Philly, Philadelphia is one of the largest cities in Pennsylvania. It is home to many large and small businesses, freelancers and entrepreneurs. Beyond that, there are many thriving technological industries within the city. Whether you want a single-desk office space or a large office for your upcoming conference, there is a lot to explore in Philadelphia. Many of their offices boast printing scanning services, 24/7 security, parking spaces, a coffee and tea section, private phone booths, cleaning services, wellness rooms, etc. For industrial space, you could expect to pay $6 per square foot per year. For metropolitan office space, $36 per square foot per year would suffice.

8. Chicago

Being one of the biggest cities in the world, Chicago attracts many business owners, entrepreneurs, tech-savvy individuals etc. Apart from that, you would find their unique office spaces offering many educational and professional materials necessary for growth. Either you reside here or you are looking forward to allocating a suitable office area in a city, then this is a great choice. You would find many companies in Chicago offering office suites that could occupy up to 500 team members. Beyond that, there are office desks, private phone booths, printing, scanning, mailing services, networking events, lunch and dinner hours, wellness rooms and many more. With $6 per square foot per year, you'd be able to rent an office in Chicago while some locations could cost up to $40 per square foot per year.

9. Albany, New York

Albany remains one of the largest cities in New York with many office spaces available at an affordable rate. The city has a population of more than 1.1 million people and it is approximately 3 hours drive from New York. Despite the huge economic and technological advancement in the city, you’d still find office space at the rate of $19 per square foot per year. You’d find many working spaces with lounge areas, parking areas, snacks and coffee sections, meeting rooms, business-class printers, etc. 

10. Austin, Texas

Austin is the capital of Texas and it is well recognized as one of the actively growing economies in the US in terms of technology and innovation. It is home to many technological companies, including Dell, Apple, etc. With the numerous economic developments and start-up ecosystem, there has been a major increase in demand for office spaces. Whether you are a team of two or fifty, there are several categories of office space and suites that will meet your needs. You will usually find most offices offering services and facilities ranging from 24/7 Wi-Fi and security, office desks, meeting and conference rooms, coffee and tea sections, parking spaces and many more. The cost of office space could range from $29 per square foot per year or more.

11. Buffalo, New York

Buffalo is another option within New York. The city is approximately 6 hours drive away from New York with more than 270, 000 people. If you desire a good quality office space at a relatively fair price, you should check out office spaces on this axis. You would usually find these working spaces at a rate of $20 per square foot per year or more. Many offices around have 24/7 internet services, lunch and relaxation space, private meeting rooms and conference centres etc. Whether you want a simple desk office space or an enlarged area for your teams, you will definitely get one that suits your taste.

12. San Francisco

San Francisco is home to many big companies like Twitter and Uber. Not only is the city one of the biggest in California, but it remains a center for many commercial and industrial activities. The city has also been recognized for the development of AI innovations and technology advancement in general. With about 4.6 million populations, many start-ups and thriving companies have the opportunity to tap into the diverse talent pool. It is therefore much easier to find many investors in this area. You would find office space at the rate of $45 per square foot per year and more in San Francisco metropolitan areas.

13. Denver

Denver consists of a population of about 3 million. The city has been welcoming many tech companies over the years. You would find many offices with several facilities in Denver. Not only that, the city has also been experiencing a major technological change and advancement. Prices of affordable office space in Denver could range from about $18 to $20 per square foot per year.

14. Boise

Boise is another city you would want to consider if you are looking for a city with a high quality of life. It consists of many locally owned small businesses ranging from manufacturing, construction, distribution companies and many more. Beyond these local industries, many coastal businesses are also expanding their operations towards this area. The demand for office space has therefore been on the rise over the years. You would find offices at a cost of $18 per square foot per year or more in Boise.

15. Cleveland

With more than 2 million people, Cleveland boasts of a diverse economy featuring many manufacturing and healthcare industries. Beyond that, the city has been a welcoming home to many tech start-ups. You would find many office spaces with facilities and infrastructures ranging from relaxation and lunch centers, meeting and conference rooms, scanning and printing machines to office supplies and equipment, air conditioning and many more. Offices in Cleveland typically cost $17 per square foot per year.

What Factors to Consider When Renting an Office Space in the US?

Before deciding on an office space to rent, there are a few factors you need to take into consideration. Here are some of them.

1. Accessibility and location

The location and accessibility of an office space are essential factors you need to consider first. You would need to choose an office space that is convenient for you in terms of proximity to your home. Apart from that, you would need to put your business partners, employees, suppliers, customers etc. into consideration when selecting an office space. Is the area easily accessible to public transport and highways? Overall, you would want to ensure that the office location can easily be assessed without stress.

2. Price

Pricing is another factor you would want to check. Whether you want a single desk for just you or you have a team of two or five, you will always find an office space that meets your price range. You would also want to check if the office space to be chosen requires a year or 3-month initial deposit, are there any other hidden or extra charges. Be sure if there are parking and maintenance fees, utilities and many more. While all of these are crucial, you should weigh the available amenities, infrastructure, location and working conditions or environment when determining a suitable price.

3. Size

The size of your team and the office space is another point to check. If your team contains only two members, then you might not require a large space compared to when you are twelve in number. Apart from that, you need to consider if you will be recruiting other employees in months or years to come. All of this is to ensure you get an office space that will conveniently occupy your employees. Be sure to take note if you will be needing conference rooms, storage or social space, etc.

4. Infrastructure

Another important point to consider is the infrastructural facilities available. Different office spaces have varying infrastructures, ranging from 24/7 internet services, security systems, phone booths, relaxation centers and many more. While these infrastructures could potentially influence the pricing of the office, you should be sure to compare the available facilities together with the costs of offices.

5. Parking space

There should also be an availability of sufficient parking space for employees, suppliers and other visitors. Since most transportation would be by car, then a parking space should be readily available. Be sure if there are charges for it too and how much it would cost.

6. Safety and Health

Safety within the neighborhood in general and specifically within the office space is paramount. You should analyze if the neighboring environment is safe and secure for you and your business. Also, ascertain the rate of hazards, crime, accidents, etc. within the environment. If there are several other large and small businesses within the area, then that could suggest it’s a good location to be. On the other hand, you would also want to estimate the health and safety measures that are provided within the office itself.

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Conclusion

The USA has so many amazing cities with numerous office spaces. Whether you want a single desk office space, a small office for a team of three or you desire a large environment for your upcoming business conference, you would usually find a suitable office space that meets your specific needs and budget.