Between 30% and 40% of renters in the U.S. purchase renters insurance, according to the Insurance Information Institute. That purchase makes good sense for a number of reasons. Among them:

• Rental property owners are not responsible for damage or theft that happens inside the rented resident; and
• In the wake of a covered loss such as a fire or natural catastrophe, any property insurance that is secured by a rental owner will not cover the renters' personal possessions.

Renters insurance also can be a very good deal, especially when compared to other personal insurance products such as car insurance, homeowners' insurance or even wedding insurance. However, the average cost of renters insurance varies from one state to the next, according to recent research conducted by ValuePenguin. The insurance comparison shopping site recently concluded that the average monthly premium for renters insurance in the U.S. is $18. However the average premium per state ranges from as little as $12 a month to as much as $34 a month. The slideshow above illustrates the 10 states with the highest monthly renters insurance premiums, according to ValuePenguin. See also:

• Renters insurance 101: Protecting your college student's tech
• Nearly 70% of rental hosts buy supplemental liability insurance
• 5 reasons why renters need insurance