ZIP 78209
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Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
February. Asking rents in ZIP 78209 usually run 0.9% below trend in February and 1% above it in August, about $29 a month apart at today's median. Based on 10 years of data.
Rent in ZIP 78209 is 3.4% below its high of $1,593 in May 2025, at $1,539 as of September 2026.
Rent in ZIP 78209 changed -1.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 629 Texas ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.2%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 78209 rose 17% while median household income rose 17.8% ($73,448 to $86,514). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in ZIP 78209 is 13.8% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent rose in 5 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($86,514) is $2,163 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($2,080); a 4-bedroom is $2,420.
38th cheapest of 54 ZIP codes in San Antonio.
ZIP 78216, 4 miles away, rents for 20% less ($1,233/mo), about $3,700 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 78209. 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.
Who lives here
ZIP 78209 (San Antonio, TX) is roughly split between renters and owners, 60.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How ZIP 78209 in San Antonio, TX has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in ZIP 78209 in San Antonio, TX has increased from $1,369 to $1,539, a 12.4% change over five years. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $74,042 in 2021 to $86,514 more recently. On paper, paychecks moved up faster than rent, which softens the affordability squeeze versus the 2021 baseline. The population has grown by 2.2% since 2021, moving from about 42,474 residents to roughly 43,400. Renters now make up 50% of households, compared with 51.7% five years ago. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the ZIP 78209 in San Antonio, TX market of 2021.
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Tips for renters in ZIP 78209
Last updated: October 17, 2026
ZIP code 78209 covers San Antonio, TX. The median rent here is $1,539/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,340/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,620/mo.
At 21% of local median household income ($86,514/yr), ZIP 78209 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 1.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does ZIP 78209 compare to the rest of San Antonio?
At $1,539/mo, rent takes ~21% of ZIP 78209's median household income ($86,514/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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