• Hawaii's thriving capital city frequently tops many annual lists of cities with the highest average rents.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  The price of renting a house or apartment in the United States depends on many factors, including the size of the unit, the neighborhood, access to public transportation and the city itself. Some places are known for having sky-high rents, usually for good reasons. These cities are important cultural and economic hubs where job prospects tend to be high. Whether or not the exorbitant rental prices are really worth it is up to you to decide.
  
  

New York City

• New York City is notorious for expensive housing, particularly in Manhattan, where rents can be nearly double those of neighboring boroughs like Queens and Brooklyn. According to PropertyNest.com's list of the Top 10 Most Expensive Cities to Rent an Apartment in America for 2010, New York ranked number one, with the average monthly price of a one-bedroom apartment a whopping $2,316.
  
  

Washington, D.C.

• The nation's capital is another city that frequently tops annual lists of the most expensive places to rent in the United States. While Washington, D.C. admittedly has its issues related to poverty and crime, ABC News argues that, "government jobs have kept the local economy humming." The average cost of a one-bedroom apartment in D.C. is $1,907 per month, according to PropertyNest.com.
  
  

Honolulu

• With its sunny skies, convenient access to tropical beaches, buzzing university scene and stellar job market, it's no wonder rent averages $1,237 in Hawaii's alluring capital, according to KITV.com, a subsidiary of ABC News. If you are looking to rent in Honolulu, the University of Hawaii recommends finding a place in late July or early August when the tourist crowds tend to dissipate.
  
  

San Francisco

• San Francisco boasts one of the most beautiful settings of any city in the world. Surrounded by rugged mountains and foggy inlets, San Francisco is often compared to other cities with spectacular settings like Rio de Janeiro and Sydney. When you also consider the city's vital, young population, eclectic cultural scene and booming, progressive-leaning economy, it's no surprise that rents are so high. According to PropertyNest.com, the average cost of a one-bedroom apartment in San Francisco is $1,435.