The average rent paid for housing in Los Angeles County in the first quarter climbed 2.4% compared to last year, to $1,520 a month, according to new figures out Thursday from real estate data firm Reis Inc. That’s roughly in line with inflation. Orange County is up 3.5%, to $1,660.

Both counties rank among the costliest rental markets in the country — though well below the $2,277 average rent paid in San Francisco and $3,233 in New York — and also among the tightest.