How we calculate the true cost
One simple model, applied the same way in every city, so the numbers are comparable.
The promo trap, in plain terms
- The offer: a low first-month or web-only rate on select units, for new customers only.
- The fees: a one-time admin fee (commonly $25–$50), a required protection plan or insurance ($10–$30 a month), a lock, sometimes a deposit.
- The increase: most rentals are month-to-month. Large operators send existing-customer rate increases with 30 days’ notice; increases of 30–40% are widely reported, sometimes within the first four months.
- Why it works: moving a full unit takes a truck, a day and help. Operators know most people stay.
The six-month model
For each unit size we take the average non-climate street rate from two or three public price pages, then model six months:
- Month 1: a promo at 50% of the market rate. A “$1” promo is cheaper, but often only on select units.
- Months 2–4: the market rate.
- Months 5–6: the market rate plus a 30% existing-customer increase. We also show the range for +15% to +40%.
- Plus: a ~$29 one-time admin fee and a ~$12 monthly protection plan.
6-month true average = (all rent + fees + protection) ÷ 6. We also show rent only. Every city page has a calculator so you can test a real quote.
Sources and estimates
We use public pages from StorageCafe (Yardi Matrix data), StorageUnitCosts, Storage Stats, SpareFoot and operator blogs such as Extra Space. Where a size has only one source, or no public lowest-promo figure, the table says so and the figure should be treated as an estimate. Metro-wide averages can be lower than city averages because they include suburbs.
What the model does not know
Some facilities lock rates for 6–12 months; some never raise them early. Climate control, upper floors, neighborhood and season all move the price. The point is to compare like with like — the month-four price, not the month-one price.