Rents are 11% below what Galveston's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,435 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
January. Asking rents in Galveston usually run 1% below trend in January and 1.4% above it in July, about $34 a month apart at today's median. Based on 10 years of data.
Rent in Galveston is 1.2% below its high of $1,453 in June 2026, at $1,435 as of September 2026.
Rent in Galveston changed +0.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 224 Texas cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.0%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Galveston rose 30.2% while median household income rose 12.8% ($49,319 to $55,631). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Galveston is 30.1% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has fallen 3 months in a row, and rose in 6 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($55,631) is $1,391 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,240); a 2-bedroom is $1,483.
The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Galveston, 77554 ($2,559/mo), costs 2.1 times the cheapest, 77551 ($1,246/mo).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Galveston. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Galveston, TX is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large retiree population, has a median income below the national average, 36% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Galveston, TX has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Galveston, TX stood at $1,151 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,435, reflecting a 24.7% increase over the period. Census figures show median household income at $55,631 today, compared with $52,899 five years earlier. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 36% of adults here, versus 30.4% in 2021. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Galveston on your salary?
At $1,435/mo, how Galveston rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Galveston rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Galveston. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Galveston
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Galveston is $1,435/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,190/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,483/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,240/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,977/mo.
At 31% of local median household income ($55,631/yr), Galveston ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.6% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Galveston?
At $1,435/mo, rent takes ~31% of Galveston's median household income ($55,631/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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