Nevada renters are some of the most burdened in the country.
According to U.S. Census Data, 28% of all Nevada renters are paying over half of their monthly income toward rent. This puts the Silver State in second place behind Florida, which sits at 31%. California is the third-most burdened, with 27.5%.
In some cases, rent is so high that some folks in Reno don't rent at all.
"I'm with my daughter, staying with her until I get my financial situation squared away," said Blana Lazaro, who lives at her daughter's house.
Lazaro has lived in Reno for 38 years. She said rents have notably increased in the past few years.
"I remember when I got a studio like 8 to 10 years ago, and I was paying $450," Lazaro said. "Now the studios are starting [at] like $1,300, $1,400."
But it's not just the rent standing in her way. Lazaro said she's noticed a change in what some apartment complexes ask for every month.
"More apartment complexes are having the tenant, you know, pay for water, pay for sewer, pay for trash," she said.
In the City of Reno's latest economic update back in October, it said the average rent for all apartment types sits at $1,746, almost a five percent increase over the year. The City added that rent prices have gone up for eight straight months, compared to the same time last year.
"It's ugly," Lazaro said. "I mean, that's the only word that I can describe it."
These rising costs have forced Lazaro to make tough choices.
"I don't know whether to make my car payment or to help my daughter with the groceries or to pay my part of the rent," she said.
Lazaro said she's been juggling this decision for the past four months.
