Average Rent in Houston – Spring 2019

With the spring season upon us, it is a good time to take a look at the market and get an idea of what it will cost to live in Houston. For the purposes of this study, I used HAR.com to find rentals that have leased in the past 30 days that meet the following criteria: one-bedroom, one bath, all appliances including washer and dryer, central HVAC, and unfurnished. HAR.com is the Houston Association of Realtors’ Multiple Listing Service; you can find apartments, condominiums, garage apartments, and even houses to rent on this site. I found the average rent in Houston for a one-bedroom to be $1430.

Central Houston

Most people that I work with prefer to live in central Houston – the area north of I-10, but south of Hwy 59, from downtown on the east end to loop 610 on the west end. Central Houston includes downtown, midtown, Montrose, Upper Kirby, River Oaks, Greenway Plaza, Highland Village, Rice Military, Memorial Heights, and the Washington Corridor area. This is the area of Houston that I have focused my research and based on the average one-bedroom rental price. In Central Houston, there were one-bedroom rentals ranging from 534 square feet to 1,026 square feet. These are true one-bedroom rentals, not study or efficiency units. The rent ranged from $800 to $1800 with the average rent at $1430.

Greater Heights

The next most popular area of Houston is Greater Heights. It is close to the city center and offers convenient access to I-45 and 290 for anyone that needs to commute North. For the purposes of this study, my boundaries for Greater Heights are I-10 to the South, loop 610 to the North and West, and I-45 to the East. This study does not include Garden Oaks, Oak Forest, or Independence Heights in the Greater Heights boundaries. In Greater Heights, there were one-bedroom rentals ranging from 440 square feet to 875 square feet. The rent ranged from $1000 to $1595 with an average rent of $1282.

Texas Medical Center/Bellaire/West University/Museum District

An area of Houston that is in big demand during April and May is the Texas Medical Center and surrounding areas. This part of Houston has Hwy 59 as a northern boundary with loop 610 keeping it tight on the south and west, and Hwy 288 finishing off the eastern boundary. Match Day happens on March 15^th and immediately following, medical professionals of all levels descend upon the TMC area to secure housing for the fall. This region of Houston has one-bedroom rentals ranging from 558 square feet to 1192 square feet. The rent ranges from $800 to $2150 with $1165 being the average rent.

Galleria/Uptown/Memorial City

Another popular area of Houston is the Galleria area. For the purposes of this study, I created borders of loop 610 to the East, loop Beltway 8 to the West, Hwy 59 to the south and I-10 to the north. City Centre, Energy Corridor, and Alief are not included in this search of the Galleria area. In this area of Houston, the one-bedroom rental options ranged from 594 square feet to 1292 square feet. The rental rates start at $850 and go up to $2216, with $1287 being the average.

As you can see, there are options at $1000 or less, but they’re very small one-bedroom options. They have all the basics a person would need to live comfortably, but, they’re probably lacking in updates and modern styles. If you’re willing to make some sacrifices, you can get into the city for a reasonable price, and be close to all the fun! If you like the nicer things in life, prepare yourself to spend around $1400 for a newer and more updated apartment in the city center. If you live like a Kardashian, well, your rent for a one-bedroom is likely going to exceed $2000.

Are you relocating to Houston from another city, or finally moving in from one of our suburbs? Let me help you find your next place. I will do nearly all the work, save you a ton of time, and it doesn’t cost you anything! Contact me today at 832-513-9931 or angel@angelfultzrealty.com. Have questions or comments, leave a remark below.