Average Apartment Prices in Texas by City (2026)

Updated September 2026. Apartment rent in Texas varies widely by city — and in 2026, rents are falling in every major Texas market as a record wave of new apartments works through lease-up. Below are citywide median rents from Apartment List rent reports (August–September 2026), plus what those numbers mean for your budget. For the full sourced dataset, see our Texas apartment rent statistics hub (2026).

Texas Rent Medians at a Glance (2026)

Citywide medians across all apartment ages and submarkets, via Apartment List (Aug–Sept 2026 reports). Central, newer, or luxury units typically run above these medians; older garden-style and suburban units run below.

Austin — Overall $1,328 | 1BR $1,176 | 2BR $1,432 | down 2.9% YoY (Sept 2026 report)

Dallas — Overall $1,329 | 1BR $1,214 | 2BR $1,437 | down 1.5% YoY (Sept 2026 report)

Houston — Overall $1,264 | 1BR $1,116 | 2BR $1,323 | down 2.8% YoY (Aug 2026 report)

San Antonio — Overall $1,122 | 1BR $958 | 2BR $1,180 | down 5.0% YoY (Aug 2026 report)

Fort Worth — Overall $1,340 | 1BR $1,144 | 2BR $1,320 | down 1.6% YoY (Aug 2026 report)

Arlington — Overall $1,253 | 1BR $1,083 | 2BR $1,276 | down 3.2% YoY (Aug 2026 report)

Plano — Overall $1,643 | 1BR $1,360 | 2BR $1,721 | down 2.4% YoY (Aug 2026 report)

Irving — Overall $1,421 | 1BR $1,250 | 2BR $1,539 | down 0.3% YoY (Sept 2026 report)

Note on methodology: Apartment List reports medians (half of leases above, half below), which run lower than simple averages because luxury outliers pull averages up. Zillow's asking-rent figures (which include single-family houses) run higher — e.g. $2,099 in Austin and $1,900 in Houston as of September 2026. Both are cited in our statistics hub with methodology notes.

Which Cities Are Cheapest

San Antonio is the cheapest major Texas city at a $958 median 1BR — roughly 20% below Austin and 15% below Dallas for comparable apartment quality. If price is your top priority and you're not locked into a specific industry, San Antonio is the answer.

Arlington comes in close behind ($1,083 median 1BR) with a unique advantage: DFW metro access (jobs in both Dallas and Fort Worth) at lower rents than either city. Strong value pick if your work is in DFW.

Houston ($1,116 median 1BR) also offers strong value — cheaper than Austin, Dallas, or Plano. Given Houston's size and job diversity, it's often the best big-city value.

Which Cities Are Most Expensive

Plano is the most expensive market we track at a $1,643 overall median — the premium reflects top-rated schools, corporate headquarters, and family-friendly amenities. Worth it if schools are a priority; not the right pick for budget-first singles.

Austin's citywide median looks moderate ($1,176 1BR), but that blends suburbs with the core: walkable central neighborhoods (South Congress, Downtown) still run $1,650–$2,000+ for a 1BR. Expect to pay 25%+ more than San Antonio for similar quality in central locations.

Downtown Dallas and downtown Austin luxury 1-bedrooms approach or exceed $2,000. Premium locations within premium cities.

What Drives Rent Differences?

Several factors create the gap between cheap and expensive Texas cities:

• Job market density: Cities with concentrated high-wage jobs (Austin tech, Plano corporate) command higher rents.
• School quality: Plano and parts of Austin command premiums due to top school districts.
• Housing supply: Texas delivered 100,000+ new units in 2024–2025; markets with the biggest supply waves (Austin, San Antonio) show the steepest YoY declines.
• Walkability: Walkable neighborhoods command a $200–$500/month premium over equivalent car-dependent areas.
• Newer construction: Newer luxury apartments run 20–35% above older comparable units — and landlords are discounting them with 6–12 weeks free (Dallas Fed, May 2026).

Neighborhood-Level Price Variation Within Cities

Medians hide huge variation. Within every Texas city, rent varies 30–50% by neighborhood. Our city and neighborhood guides carry current typical ranges:

• Austin: Pflugerville ~$1,300 1BR vs. Downtown ~$2,000+ 1BR — see Austin apartments
• Dallas: Lower Greenville ~$1,450 1BR vs. Uptown ~$1,800+ 1BR — see Dallas apartments
• Houston: Energy Corridor ~$1,300 1BR vs. River Oaks ~$2,100+ 1BR — see Houston apartments

How Much Do You Need to Earn?

Most Texas apartments require 2.5–3x monthly rent in gross income. At September 2026 median 1BR rents:

• San Antonio 1BR ($958): Need ~$2,400–$2,875 gross monthly, or ~$34,000 annual
• Houston 1BR ($1,116): Need ~$2,800–$3,350 gross monthly, or ~$40,000 annual
• Dallas 1BR ($1,214): Need ~$3,000–$3,650 gross monthly, or ~$44,000 annual
• Austin 1BR ($1,176): Need ~$2,950–$3,550 gross monthly, or ~$42,000 annual

If your income is below these thresholds, plenty of options exist — older properties and outer neighborhoods have more lenient income requirements or lower base rents.

Trend: Rents Are Falling Across Texas (2026)

Texas rents are declining, not just stabilizing. Per Apartment List Aug–Sept 2026 reports, every major city is down year-over-year, led by San Antonio (-5.0%) and Arlington (-3.2%). The Dallas Fed (May 2026) attributes it to pandemic-era oversupply: vacancy rates peaked in mid-2024, concessions of 6–12 weeks free remain widespread (Austin leads), and permits have fallen back toward pre-pandemic levels. Researchers expect rent growth to resume gradually in late 2026–2027 as deliveries slow.

What this means for renewals: in most Texas markets, 2026 renewals are flat to down in over-supplied submarkets. Get competing quotes before you re-sign — or let us negotiate for you, free.

How to Actually Get Below-Median Rent

The medians above reflect standard market pricing. You can often beat these numbers by:

• Moving in the December–February window (save 5–10%)
• Signing at lease-ups offering 6–12 weeks free (save 8–15% effective)
• Choosing older established properties (save 15–25% vs. luxury new)
• Going one neighborhood out from the peak walkable zone (save 20–30%)
• Using an apartment locator to access specials not publicly listed (save 5–10% typically)

Tell us your Texas city and budget and we'll come back with specific properties at or below these medians — with current move-in specials factored in. Free service, no fees to renters, ever.