Bedroom count
Property type
Last updated on August 14, 2026
Average rent in
San Marcos, TX
Average rent in
Last updated on August 14, 2026
Bedroom count
Property type
Key takeaways for renters
The bottom line
San Marcos, TX rent slipped 6.8% year over year, with a current median of $1,397/month. Renters today are paying $68 less per month on average than last year, while month-to-month rent is essentially flat.
Compared to national trends
San Marcos sits 27.4% more affordable than the $1,925/month national median, with 289 total rentals offering a smaller but accessible market for renters.
Price ranges
Studios in San Marcos run around $895/month, 1-bedrooms around $1,000/month, 2-bedrooms around $1,197/month, and 4+ bedrooms reach $2,100/month. Houses rent for a median of $1,800/month while apartments sit at $1,200/month, with apartments making up 55.9% of total rentals.
Neighborhood spotlight
Oak Heights rents fell 54.5% year over year to $1,375/month across 21 rentals. This decline contrasts with the citywide market, which is down 6.8%, showing a localized cooldown in Oak Heights.
Median rent
Median rent in San Marcos
$1,397/mo
7%vs previous year
The average rent in San Marcos is $1,397 per month as of August 2026. This is 27% below the national average rent, or $528 less per month.
average price per square foot
Total rentals
Available rentals in San Marcos
289
for rent on Zumper.com as of August 2026
Rent price distribution
Share of San Marcos rentals at each price point
Rent trends in San Marcos, TX
Average rent prices in San Marcos have remained the same over the last month and have decreased by 7% since last year.
Rent trends
Rent prices on this page are calculated on a rolling 30-day basis and updated daily.
Compare rent prices in
San Marcos, TX
Rent prices in San Marcos vary by bedroom size, rental type, and neighborhood. The average rent for an apartment in San Marcos is $1,200, whereas a house costs $1,800. 1-bedroom apartments in San Marcos run $1,100 on average, while 2-bedroom apartments are $1,149.
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Studio | $895 | No Change | 30% | |
1 bedroom | $1,000 |  5% | 1% | |
2 bedroom | $1,197 | 1% | 7% | |
3 bedroom | $1,675 | 2% | 6% | |
4 bedroom | $2,100 | 2% | 13% |
Listings | ||
|---|---|---|
Blanco Gardens | $1,100 | |
Downtown San Marcos | $1,325 | |
Dunbar | $1,297 | |
Forest Hills | $1,350 | |
Heritage | $1,199 | |
Hughson Heights | $1,250 | |
Millview East | $1,050 | |
Rio Vista | $1,450 | |
Southwest Hills | $1,450 | |
Westover | $1,445 |
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Apartments | $1,200 | 1% | No Change | |
Condos | $1,187 | 6% | No Change | |
Houses | $1,800 | 2% | No Change | |
Rooms | $815 | 4% | No Change |
Studio
Average rent
$895
Last 30 days
No Change
Last year
30%
1 bedroom
Average rent
$1,000
Last 30 days
5%
Last year
1%
2 bedroom
Average rent
$1,197
Last 30 days
1%
Last year
7%
3 bedroom
Average rent
$1,675
Last 30 days
2%
Last year
6%
4 bedroom
Average rent
$2,100
Last 30 days
2%
Last year
13%
Heritage
Average rent
$1,199
Hughson Heights
Average rent
$1,250
Blanco Gardens
Average rent
$1,100
Southwest Hills
Average rent
$1,450
Millview East
Average rent
$1,050
Westover
Average rent
$1,445
Forest Hills
Average rent
$1,350
Downtown San Marcos
Average rent
$1,325
Dunbar
Average rent
$1,297
Rio Vista
Average rent
$1,450
Apartments
Average rent
$1,200
Last 30 days
1%
Condos
Average rent
$1,187
Last 30 days
6%
Houses
Average rent
$1,800
Last 30 days
2%
Rooms
Average rent
$815
Last 30 days
4%
The table above reflects average rent prices in San Marcos, TX, broken down by the number of bedrooms, neighborhoods, and property types. The availability of data for each category is dependent on market inventory and will adjust depending on your selected filters.
How does rent in San Marcos, TX compare to other cities?
Compare median rent prices in San Marcos and Austin by all bedroom counts and property types.
San Marcos
27%lower than the national median
19%lower than the national median
Takeaway
The median rent for all rentals in San Marcos, TX is 11% lower than the median rent in Austin, TX.
Average rent in nearby cities
Explore rent trends in neighboring markets
$1,566
16%$1,897
6%$1,595
13%$1,695
3%$1,500
$1,594
22%$1,281
7%$1,705
30%$1,700
2%$1,728
5%$1,545
2%$1,620
25%Cost of living in San Marcos, TX
Explore the cost of essential expenses, and then use our rent calculator to find out how much rent you can afford.
Expenses accrued by most renters | Average cost compared to national average |
|---|---|
| Goods & Services | 11% lower |
| Groceries | 7% lower |
| Health | 10% lower |
| Housing | 23% lower |
| Transportation | 8% lower |
| Utilities | 12% lower |
Discover rentals in San Marcos, TX
2d ago
Verified
1651 Post Rd, San Marcos, TX 78666
2–4 beds
2–4 baths
$599–$649
Apartment for rent
1d ago
1654 Post Rd, San Marcos, TX 78666
2 beds
2 baths
$620
Apartment for rent
9h ago
129 Pavonia Ct, San Marcos, TX 78666
1–4 beds
1–2 baths
$641–$2,148
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
House for rent in San Marcos
124 Sage Meadows Dr, San Marcos, TX 78666
3 beds
2 baths
$675
House for rent
Available Jul 27
10h ago
Verified
1301 Leah Ave, San Marcos, TX 78666
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$2,970–$5,806
Apartment for rent
2d ago
Verified
120 Quiet Oak Rd #NA, San Marcos, TX 78666
4 beds
4 baths
$3,900
$3,500
Price drop
House for rent
Available Sep 1
5d+ ago
Apartment for rent in San Marcos
1301 Leah Ave #3101, San Marcos, TX 78666
2 beds
2 baths
$3,250
Apartment for rent
Available Jul 11
5d+ ago
Apartment for rent in San Marcos
1301 Leah Ave #1307, San Marcos, TX 78666
2 beds
2 baths
$3,250
Apartment for rent
Available Jul 11
12h ago
Verified
1041 1041 Vervain Rd, San Marcos, TX 78666
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$655–$1,545
Price drop
Apartment for rent
12h ago
Verified
1041 1041 Vervain Rd, San Marcos, TX 78666
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$655–$1,545
Price drop
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Verified
3 beds
2.5 baths
$1,855
$1,720
Price drop
House for rent
Available Sep 4
12h ago
Verified
1041 1041 Vervain Rd, San Marcos, TX 78666
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$655–$1,545
Price drop
Apartment for rent
3d ago
Verified
1805 Aquarena Springs Dr, San Marcos, TX 78666
1–2 beds
1–2 baths
$879–$1,179
Apartment for rent
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Frequently asked questions for San Marcos, TX
Quick answers to common questions about the San Marcos rental market.
How much is rent in San Marcos?
The average rent in San Marcos is $1,397 per month as of August 8, 2026.
Is rent up or down in San Marcos?
Average rent prices in San Marcos have remained the same over the last month and have decreased by 7% since last year.
How does San Marcos rent compare to the national average?
Rent in San Marcos is 27% below the national average, which means renters are paying approximately $528 less per month.
Which neighborhoods are most affordable in San Marcos?
The most affordable neighborhoods in San Marcos are Millview East ($1,050/mo), Blanco Gardens ($1,100/mo), and Heritage ($1,199/mo).
What salary do I need to afford rent in San Marcos?
To comfortably afford rent in San Marcos, you'd need to earn approximately $56,000/year, based on spending no more than 30% of your income on rent.
When is the best time of year to rent in San Marcos?
April offers the best timing for apartment hunting in San Marcos, with rents running about 5.7% lower than peak July prices. March and April also see higher competition but December tends to be the least competitive month overall.
Methodology
Rent prices are based on Zumper's rental listings from the past 30 days. Median rent is calculated across all available listings and property types on the platform. If you filter the page by bedroom count or property type, the pricing throughout the page will update automatically to reflect that segment of the rental market.
Household and population data come from the U.S. Census Bureau. Cost-of-living data is sourced from the Council for Community and Economic Research's Cost of Living Index (COLI).