Texas Cities Rent Ranking (2026)

A complete data-driven ranking of Texas rental markets. We analyzed 6,700+ apartment listingsacross the 25 largest Texas cities to rank them by average 1-bedroom rent. Whether you're relocating for work, comparing costs of living, or hunting for your next apartment, this guide gives you the full picture — no guesswork, just numbers.

Full Rent Ranking — 25 Texas Cities

Sorted by average 1-bedroom rent (highest to lowest). Tier assigned by price range.

Rank	City	Avg 1BR Rent	Listings	Tier
1	Austin	$1,624	316	Premium
2	Dallas	$1,400	230	Premium
3	Frisco	$1,380	90	Premium
4	Fort Worth	$1,345	178	Mid
5	Round Rock	$1,280	82	Mid
6	Houston	$1,260	202	Mid
7	Arlington	$1,242	104	Mid
8	San Antonio	$1,207	335	Mid
9	Richardson	$1,190	81	Mid
10	McKinney	$1,150	100	Mid
11	Irving	$1,129	107	Mid
12	El Paso	$1,078	165	Budget
13	Plano	$1,077	117	Budget
14	Grand Prairie	$1,060	112	Budget
15	Conroe	$1,050	90	Budget
16	Midland	$1,010	77	Budget
17	Corpus Christi	$980	91	Budget
18	Waco	$920	73	Budget
19	Beaumont	$870	81	Budget
20	McAllen	$850	74	Budget
21	Wichita Falls	$820	93	Budget
22	San Angelo	$790	84	Budget
23	Brownsville	$780	72	Budget
24	Texarkana	$760	73	Budget

Top 5 Most Expensive Cities

These cities command the highest rents in the state, driven by strong job markets and high demand.

#1$1,624

Austin · 316 listings

#2$1,400

Dallas · 230 listings

#3$1,380

Frisco · 90 listings

#4$1,345

Fort Worth · 178 listings

#5$1,280

Round Rock · 82 listings

Top 5 Most Affordable Cities

Looking to save? These cities offer the lowest average rents among the 25 largest Texas cities.

#25$760

Texarkana · 73 listings

#24$780

Brownsville · 72 listings

#23$790

San Angelo · 84 listings

#22$820

Wichita Falls · 93 listings

#21$850

McAllen · 74 listings

Best Value Picks

These cities hit the sweet spot — reasonable rent without sacrificing access to major job centers, amenities, or quality of life.

Plano

$1,077/mo

Top-rated schools, major corporate HQs (Toyota, Liberty Mutual), and a 30-minute commute to Dallas.

Irving

$1,129/mo

Close to DFW Airport, strong tech corridor, and significantly cheaper than Dallas proper.

Grand Prairie

$1,060/mo

Centrally located between Dallas and Fort Worth with a growing entertainment scene.

Conroe

$1,050/mo

Fast-growing north of Houston with lake access and new development — all at budget-friendly prices.

Round Rock

$1,280/mo

Austin suburb with Dell HQ, excellent parks, and rents $344 less than Austin proper.

Emerging Markets

These cities are seeing growing inventory and attention — early movers may find deals before demand pushes prices up.

McKinney

100 listings

Avg $1,150/mo

Consistently ranked among the best places to live in the U.S. Growing north Dallas suburb.

Frisco

90 listings

Avg $1,380/mo

Professional sports hub (Cowboys, FC Dallas) with rapid commercial development.

Conroe

90 listings

Avg $1,050/mo

One of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. by population. New apartments opening constantly.

Waco

73 listings

Avg $920/mo

Baylor University town experiencing a downtown renaissance and growing rental demand.

Salary Needed by Tier

Using the standard 30% rule (spending no more than 30% of gross income on rent), here's what you need to earn annually to comfortably afford each tier.

Budget ($760–$1,078)

$30,400 – $43,120

/year gross income

Mid ($1,129–$1,345)

$45,160 – $53,800

/year gross income

Premium ($1,380–$1,624)

$55,200 – $64,960

/year gross income

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Texas city has the cheapest rent in 2026?

Texarkana has the lowest average 1-bedroom rent among the 25 largest cities at approximately $760/month. Brownsville and San Angelo are also among the most affordable options.

Is Austin still the most expensive city for rent in Texas?

Yes, Austin leads the ranking with an average 1-bedroom rent of $1,624/month, followed by Dallas at $1,400 and Frisco at $1,380.

How much do I need to earn to afford rent in Texas?

Using the 30% rule (spending no more than 30% of gross income on rent), you need roughly $30,400/year for Budget-tier cities, $45,160–$53,800 for Mid-tier, and $55,200–$64,960 for Premium-tier cities.

Which Texas city has the most apartment listings?

San Antonio leads with 335 apartment listings, followed by Austin (316) and Dallas (230).

What is the average 1-bedroom rent across all 25 Texas cities?

The weighted average across all 25 cities is approximately $1,100/month, though individual cities range from $760 to $1,624.

Are there good value cities near Dallas?

Yes — Irving ($1,129), Plano ($1,077), Grand Prairie ($1,060), and Conroe ($1,050) offer proximity to Dallas at significantly lower rent prices.

Find Your Next Apartment in Texas

Browse thousands of verified listings across all 25 cities. Filter by price, neighborhood, and amenities — all in one place.

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