Compared to other parts of the country, Texas can be more affordable for your wallet when it comes to the cost of living.
According to data gathered by MERIC, Texas has the 15th-lowest cost of living in the U.S. Things that could attract people to Texas include no state tax, mild winters, spacious living, and growing job opportunities.
What Texas cities are the best for renters?
A study by RentCafe lists several Texas cities among the best places to rent, with three cities in the top 10 and nine in the top 50 nationwide.
Here is what the average cost of rent is at these nine Texas cities:
No. 1: McKinney: $1,691
No. 4: Austin: $1,826
No. 8: Round Rock: 1,450
No. 11: Plano: $1,730
No. 24: Conroe: $1,371
No. 27: San Marcos: $1,642
No. 33: Denton: $1,586
No. 38: Fort Worth: $1,451
No. 44: San Antonio: $1,286
RentCafe considered cities with at least 10,000 apartment units in its rankings, resulting in a list of 150 qualifying metro areas.
The ranking used a composite index based on three key categories:
Cost of living and housing
Local economic strength
Overall quality of life
Each category was derived from 20 relevant metrics, weighted within set benchmarks. All data used was sourced as of April 2025 from Yardi Matrix, RentCafe.com’s sister company, focusing specifically on apartment communities with 50 or more units.
Map: Top 50 best places for renters to live in 2025
How much does it cost to rent in Texas?
According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, median rents across Texas are:
Monthly mortgage cost: $1,747
Studio rent: $1,025
One-bedroom rent: $1,026
Two-bedroom rent: $1,155
Three-bedroom rent: $1,381
Four-bedroom rent: $1,725
Five-bedroom (or more) rent: $1,867
Gross rent: $1,167
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Best cities to rent in 2025? 3 Texas spots break into top 10 in US
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