Rents are 4% below what Sugar Land'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 $1,997 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
February. Asking rents in Sugar Land usually run 0.7% below trend in February and 0.8% above it in August, about $30 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Sugar Land is 1.7% below its high of $2,032 in December 2025, at $1,997 as of September 2026.
Rent in Sugar Land changed -0.8% 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 Sugar Land rose 25.3% while median household income rose 12.3% ($121,274 to $136,217). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Sugar Land is 25% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent rose in 6 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($136,217) is $3,405 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($2,853); a 4-bedroom is $3,597.
The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Sugar Land, 77479 ($2,130/mo), costs 16% more than the cheapest, 77498 ($1,830/mo).
Stafford, 4 miles away, rents for 21% less ($1,568/mo), about $5,100 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Sugar Land. 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.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Sugar Land, TX is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 63% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Sugar Land, TX has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Sugar Land, TX stood at $1,663 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,997, reflecting a 20.1% increase over the period. Household income in the area moved from $123,733 to $136,217 across the same window, up 10.1% versus 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 63% of adults here, versus 60.3% in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Sugar Land, TX look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
Discussions about Sugar Land
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Sugar Land on your salary?
At $1,997/mo, how Sugar Land rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Sugar Land rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Sugar Land. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Sugar Land
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Sugar Land is $1,997/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,720/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,140/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,793/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,853/mo.
At 18% of local median household income ($136,217/yr), Sugar Land ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 0.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Sugar Land?
Is rent going up or down in Sugar Land?
When is the cheapest time to rent in Sugar Land?
Has rent outpaced income in Sugar Land?
Which Sugar Land neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Sugar Land rent compare to other cities in Texas?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Sugar Land?
At $1,997/mo, rent takes ~18% of Sugar Land's median household income ($136,217/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Sugar Land.
No discussions yet.