07 Oct Even Carrie Bradshaw Couldn’t Afford Carrie Bradshaw’s Life in 2025

When Carrie Bradshaw Becomes a Cost-of-Living Benchmark

In its third year running, The Economist’s Carrie Bradshaw Index (2025 edition) casts a sobering light on the economics of solo living in U.S. cities. The index ranks 100 major metros by how feasible it is for a person to live alone in a studio apartment without spending more than 30% of gross income on rent. The Economist+1

The name is no accident. It evokes Sex and the City’s iconic single-lady fantasy: the idea that a woman (or person) with a job, taste, and an apartment of her own is not just possible, but expected. The index asks: how close is that fantasy to reality today?

Here’s what the data tells us — and where the cracks are appearing.

What the Index Reveals: Trends, Tensions & Turning Points

1. Rents are outpacing wages — especially in the South

Cities that were once affordable are slipping into unaffordability. The index now flags 41 U.S. cities as unaffordable for solo renters (Bradshaw score < 1), up from 38 the year before. Straight Arrow News+2The Economist+2

In Texas, for example, Dallas has moved from marginally affordable to unaffordable: a person in Dallas would need ~$54,400 in income to support a typical studio while staying under 30% rent burden, but median wages are ~$49,740, creating a deficit in affordability. Dallas Observer+1
Similarly, Austin’s rents have surged around 25% year over year, producing a Bradshaw score of ~0.8. Straight Arrow News

Memphis experienced one of the largest affordability setbacks, dropping from a score above 1.0 to below, as studio rents soared. Straight Arrow News+1

2. Some cities remain (relatively) affordable

On the other hand, some metros still offer breathing room.

• Wichita, Kansas holds the top spot: its Bradshaw score (~1.75) means the average income exceeds what’s required to safely rent a studio by ~75%. Sherwood News+3Straight Arrow News+3The Economist+3

• Other traditionally more affordable cities (Akron, Baton Rouge) have persisted in holding onto favorable ratios. The Economist+1

• There are cases of cities improving: Tallahassee, Florida; Phoenix, Arizona; Aurora, Colorado have seen relative improvements in solo affordability. Straight Arrow News

Still, the pool of truly affordable options is narrowing in real time.

3. Geographic shift: the South loses its softness

Historically, many southern and Sun Belt cities were safe bets for cost-of-living arbitrage. Now those advantages are eroding. Cities in Texas, Tennessee, and other fast-growth states are being recast in the index as high-risk for solo renters. Straight Arrow News+2The Economist+2

The pattern suggests that growth, migration, and housing supply pressures are compressing what used to be buffer zones. The affordability “sweet spot” is migrating further outward — both literally and figuratively.

Affordable Cities vs. New Unaffordable Entrants

Below is a comparative grid showing examples of cities that remain affordable and those newly flagged as unaffordable. This is not exhaustive — just illustrative.

Keep in mind: “affordable” does not mean “cheap” — rent burdens may still be tight.

What This Says About the Current Economy

1. Rent growth is structurally outpacing wage growth. The index underscores a divergence: real incomes are not keeping up with inflation-adjusted rent increases in many metros.

2. Mobility and migration distort local markets. Cities that attract workers (for tech, logistics, remote work) become demand centers. Even if wages rise, housing supply often lags.

3. Single-living is becoming a luxury. In many places, living alone is now a financial stretch — pushing people toward shared housing, longer commutes, or relocation.

4. Affordability is dynamic, not static. The very identities of “cheap” and “expensive” cities are shifting — what seemed a safe bet five years ago may no longer be.

5. Secondary cities may soon be next. As growth pushes outward, expect pressure on even mid-tier markets as renters spill over and investment follows.

M2 Take

The Carrie Bradshaw Index doesn’t just measure rent; it reveals who the economy is leaving behind. Solo renters — young professionals, creatives, remote workers — are increasingly treated as collateral damage in the broader narrative of urban growth.

For brands, media, and strategy leaders:

• Markets shift faster than you think. Cities once labeled “cheap” can turn expensive within a cycle.

• Narrative matters. Messaging about “affordable metros” must stay updated. An “Austin for less” angle may no longer hold water.

• Segment pressure points. Those renting solo are under a unique squeeze: less scale, less fallback. That means they are high-risk, high-sensitivity audiences.

• Opportunity is in secondary / emergent markets. If inland, secondary metros can still deliver value. They may become the new battlegrounds for relocation, creative talent, and housing innovation.

In short: the affordability map is being redrawn — and those who track it closely will get first-mover advantage.