Bedroom count
Property type
Last updated on May 16, 2026
Average rent in
San Marcos, TX
Average rent in
Last updated on May 16, 2026
Bedroom count
Property type
Key takeaways for renters
The bottom line
San Marcos, TX rent slipped 9.0% year over year, with a current median of $1,400/month. Renters today are paying $86 less per month on average than last year, while month-to-month rent is essentially unchanged.
Compared to national trends
San Marcos sits 28.2% more affordable than the $1,950/month national median, making it a more accessible market for renters seeking value in Texas.
Price ranges
Studios in San Marcos run around $895/month, 1-bedrooms around $1,054/month, 2-bedrooms around $1,200/month, 3-bedrooms around $1,797/month, and 4+ bedrooms around $2,100/month. Houses rent for a median of $1,825/month, while apartments sit at $1,200/month, reflecting distinct price tiers for renters.
Neighborhood spotlight
Spring Lake Hills saw rents fall 40.4% year over year to $1,400/month across 24 rentals. This decline is much steeper than the citywide drop of 9.0%, showing a localized cooldown in this neighborhood.
Median rent
Median rent in San Marcos
$1,400/mo
9%vs previous year
The average rent in San Marcos is $1,400 per month as of May 2026. This is 28% below the national average rent, or $550 less per month.
average price per square foot
Total rentals
Available rentals in San Marcos
327
for rent on Zumper.com as of May 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 9% 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 $1,825. 1-bedroom apartments in San Marcos run $1,078 on average, while 2-bedroom apartments are $1,199.
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Studio | $895 | 8% | 6% | |
1 bedroom | $1,054 |  1% | 6% | |
2 bedroom | $1,200 | 1% | 11% | |
3 bedroom | $1,797 | No Change | 3% | |
4 bedroom | $2,100 | 6% | 12% |
Listings | ||
|---|---|---|
Blanco Gardens | $1,199 | |
Downtown San Marcos | $1,500 | |
Dunbar | $1,347 | |
Forest Hills | $1,100 | |
Heritage | $1,295 | |
Hughson Heights | $1,199 | |
Millview East | $975 | |
Millview West | $1,050 | |
Southwest Hills | $1,500 | |
Westover | $1,237 |
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Apartments | $1,200 | 2% | No Change | |
Condos | $1,315 | No Change | No Change | |
Houses | $1,825 | No Change | No Change | |
Rooms | $840 | 1% | No Change |
Studio
Average rent
$895
Last 30 days
8%
Last year
6%
1 bedroom
Average rent
$1,054
Last 30 days
1%
Last year
6%
2 bedroom
Average rent
$1,200
Last 30 days
1%
Last year
11%
3 bedroom
Average rent
$1,797
Last 30 days
No Change
Last year
3%
4 bedroom
Average rent
$2,100
Last 30 days
6%
Last year
12%
Heritage
Average rent
$1,295
Hughson Heights
Average rent
$1,199
Westover
Average rent
$1,237
Blanco Gardens
Average rent
$1,199
Southwest Hills
Average rent
$1,500
Dunbar
Average rent
$1,347
Millview West
Average rent
$1,050
Downtown San Marcos
Average rent
$1,500
Forest Hills
Average rent
$1,100
Millview East
Average rent
$975
Apartments
Average rent
$1,200
Last 30 days
2%
Condos
Average rent
$1,315
Last 30 days
No Change
Houses
Average rent
$1,825
Last 30 days
No Change
Rooms
Average rent
$840
Last 30 days
1%
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
28%lower than the national median
6%lower than the national median
Takeaway
The median rent for all rentals in San Marcos, TX is 24% lower than the median rent in Austin, TX.
Average rent in nearby cities
Explore rent trends in neighboring markets
$1,839
6%$1,919
2%$1,795
$1,699
4%$1,550
3%$1,650
27%$1,425
12%$1,950
4%$1,723
1%$1,691
9%$1,525
$1,772
19%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 | 2% lower |
| Groceries | 18% lower |
| Health | 1% higher |
| Housing | 17% lower |
| Transportation | 10% lower |
| Utilities | 4% lower |
Discover rentals in San Marcos, TX
5d+ ago
Apartment for rent in San Marcos
156 Parrigin Cv #1, San Marcos, TX 78666
1 bed
1 bath
$550
Apartment for rent
Available Apr 22
5d+ ago
Apartment for rent in San Marcos
156 Parrigin Cv #2, San Marcos, TX 78666
1 bed
1 bath
$550
Apartment for rent
Available Apr 22
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
141 Knockout Rose Dr, San Marcos, TX 78666
4 beds
3 baths
$700
House for rent
Available Apr 10
1d ago
Verified
1301 Leah Ave, San Marcos, TX 78666
3 beds
2 baths
$4,440
Apartment for rent
3d ago
House for rent in San Marcos
144 Trotting Bear Ln, San Marcos, TX 78666
2 beds
2 baths
$2,950
House for rent
3d ago
Condo for rent in San Marcos
108 Mulligan Dr #103, San Marcos, TX 78666
2 beds
2 baths
$2,750
Condo for rent
3d ago
Condo for rent in San Marcos
138 Harborside Dr #101, San Marcos, TX 78666
2 beds
2 baths
$2,750
Condo for rent
13h ago
Verified
1041 1041 Vervain Rd, San Marcos, TX 78666
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$928–$1,450
Apartment for rent
10h ago
Verified
1350 Sadler Dr, San Marcos, TX 78666
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$1,138–$1,393
Apartment for rent
13h ago
Verified
1041 1041 Vervain Rd, San Marcos, TX 78666
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$928–$1,450
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Verified
4 beds
2 baths
$2,495
$1,920
Price drop
House for rent
Available May 5
8h ago
Verified
2 beds
1.5 baths
$10,774
$1,074
Price drop
House for rent
Available May 16
13h ago
Verified
1041 1041 Vervain Rd, San Marcos, TX 78666
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$928–$1,450
Apartment for rent
4d ago
Verified
1805 Aquarena Springs Dr, San Marcos, TX 78666
1 bed
1 bath
$779–$949
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 $1,400 per month as of May 14, 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 9% since last year.
How does San Marcos rent compare to the national average?
Rent in San Marcos is 28% below the national average, which means renters are paying approximately $550 less per month.
Which neighborhoods are most affordable in San Marcos?
The most affordable neighborhoods in San Marcos are Millview East ($975/mo), Millview West ($1,050/mo), and Forest Hills ($1,100/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?
San Marcos one-bedroom apartments averaged around $1,200 per month in 2025, while two-bedroom units averaged around $1,400 monthly. These figures represent year-over-year decreases, with one-bedrooms down 3.1% and two-bedrooms declining 1.5% from the previous year.
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).