Rents are 6% below what Mcallen'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 $1,300 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
Rent in Mcallen is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in May 2016.
Rent in Mcallen changed +2.6% 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 Mcallen rose 29.6% while median household income rose 31.6% ($46,804 to $61,579). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in Mcallen is 32.1% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($61,579) is $1,539 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,500); a 4-bedroom is $1,663.
The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Mcallen, 78504 ($1,684/mo), costs 42% more than the cheapest, 78501 ($1,183/mo).
Pharr, 6 miles away, rents for 14% less ($1,116/mo), about $2,200 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Mcallen. 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
Mcallen, TX is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 32.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Mcallen, TX has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in Mcallen, TX has climbed from $1,065 to $1,300, a 22.1% change over five years. Household income in the area moved from $52,422 to $61,579 across the same window, up 17.5% versus 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 2.4% since 2021, moving from about 141,941 residents to roughly 145,385. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Mcallen, TX look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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At $1,300/mo, how Mcallen rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Mcallen rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Mcallen. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Mcallen
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Mcallen is $1,300/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $923/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,153/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $927/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,500/mo.
At 25% of local median household income ($61,579/yr), Mcallen ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.6% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Mcallen rent compare to other cities in Texas?
At $1,300/mo, rent takes ~25% of Mcallen's median household income ($61,579/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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