How much does it cost to rent in Houston, TX?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Houston, TX is $1,567. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Houston cheaper than other Texas cities?

Houston falls in the middle range for Texas, ranking #170 out of 269 cities at $1,567/mo.

When was Houston rent data last updated?

Houston rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

Karen Chew / Unsplash

City Report · TX

Houston

Name: Average Rent Prices in Houston, TX
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 2,328,253·170th most expensive in Texas·Rental market data updated monthly for Houston, TX

Median rent (all units)

$1,567/mo

Year-over-Year

+0.8%

Month-over-Month

Stable

vs US Median

-$398

Stable (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss Houston rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

Houston · $1,567

More affordable than 71% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

59/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 4% below what Houston's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$1,567/mo

Expected by trend

$1,638/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Houston's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,264

1 BR

$1,320

2 BR

$1,577

3 BR

$2,102

4 BR+

$2,648

Research median

$1,577/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$18,804/yr

At $1,567/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.8% YoY, +0.1% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Houston, TX is majority renter-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 36.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

2,328,253

Median income

$64,813

Median age

34.4

Renters

57.9%

Age distribution

23.4%

27.7%

26.3%

12.3%

Under 1823.4%

18–3427.7%

35–5426.3%

55–6410.3%

65+12.3%

Gender

49.4%

50.6%

Male49.4%

Female50.6%

Race & ethnicity

30.4%

22.7%

44.2%

White30.4%

Black22.7%

Hispanic44.2%

Asian6.9%

Education (25+)

19.6%

21.4%

22.4%

36.6%

No HS diploma19.6%

HS diploma21.4%

Some college22.4%

Bachelor's+36.6%

Housing tenure

42.1%

57.9%

Owner42.1%

Renter57.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Houston, TX has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,319 → $1,567

up 18.8%

Income

$56,019 → $64,813

up 15.7%

Population

2,293,288 → 2,328,253

up 1.5%

Renter share

57.5% → 57.9%

+0.4 pts

Bachelor's+

34.7% → 36.6%

+1.9 pts

Median age

33.7 → 34.4

+0.7 yrs

Compared with 2021, rent in Houston, TX has climbed by $248 per month, settling near $1,567 after starting the period at $1,319. Median household income grew from $56,019 to $64,813 between 2021 and 2024, a 15.7% shift. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 3.1 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 2,293,288 to 2,328,253 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.5% change. Taken together, the five-year picture in Houston, TX reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

Community

Discussions about Houston

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

View Houston rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Houston on your salary?

At $1,567/mo, how Houston rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $93,535/yr · Rent = 20.1% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $66,409/yr · Rent = 28.3% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $76,497/yr · Rent = 24.6% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $136,729/yr · Rent = 13.8% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $174,705/yr · Rent = 10.8% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $62,182/yr · Rent = 30.2% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $56,143/yr · Rent = 33.5% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $69,201/yr · Rent = 27.2% income

affordable

By apartment size

Houston rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Houston. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Houston

About renting in Houston, TX

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Houston is $1,567/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,264/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,577/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,320/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,102/mo.

At 29% of local median household income ($64,813/yr), Houston ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Houston an affordable city for renters?

Houston is considered affordable for renters. At $1,567/mo, rent takes approximately 29% of the local median household income ($64,813/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Houston falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Houston?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $63,000/year (~$30/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,567/mo in Houston. The local median household income is $64,813/yr, meaning the typical Houston household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Houston?

Rent in Houston has increased 0.8% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Houston neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Houston are 77013 ($835/mo), 77036 ($968/mo), and 77034 ($975/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Houston is $1,567/mo.

How does Houston rent compare to other cities in Texas?

Houston is middle-of-the-pack for Texas for rent, ranking #170 out of 269 tracked cities at $1,567/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Houston?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Houston ($1,567/mo): Jersey Village ($1,264/mo), Pasadena ($1,372/mo), Stafford ($1,548/mo).

What percentage of Houston residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 57.9% of Houston households are renters, while 42.1% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Houston has a strong rental market.

How does Houston rent compare to the national average?

Houston's median rent of $1,567/mo is $398 (20%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Texas, it ranks #170 out of 269 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

29%

AFFORDABLE

At $1,567/mo, rent takes ~29% of Houston's median household income ($64,813/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Houston 29%Benchmark 30%

State income taxNone

Run the Houston affordability calculator →

Nearby cities