Rent prices are falling statewide, and Houston's have declined more than nearly all other major cities in Texas, according to a new national rent report from Zumper. Houston also has the fourth-cheapest rents in Texas.
The Zumper National Rent Report tracked year-over-year and month-over-month rent price changes in 100 U.S. cities for both one- and two-bedroom units using the most recent data available from May 2026.
Rent prices for one-bedroom units in Houston have dipped 9.6 percent year-over-year, to $1,130, which is the second-steepest decline in Texas. Two-bedroom rents have dropped nearly 5 percent from last year to $1,430.
The report also revealed that four of the 10 U.S. metros offering the most concessions are located in Texas. Austin leads nationally with more than a third of rental units "dangling incentives to fill space," followed by San Antonio and Houston. A separate rent report from real estate data firm CoStar found Houston had the fourth highest apartment vacancy rate in the U.S. in March, meaning residents may be able to save on their rent depending on the financial incentives offered by landlords.
Additionally, these same markets offering generous rent concessions are also among the 10 U.S. metros with the largest population growth, which Zumper says signals ongoing tension between tenants and their landlords regarding prices.
"So while Texas absorbed a significant share of the 2023-2025 supply wave, inventory still has to lease up before landlords regain pricing power, and the steady inflow of new residents says the demand is there," the report stated. "It’s just a question of when supply stops outrunning it."
From 2023 to 2024, Texas gained nearly 73,000 net new renters, making it the No. 1 magnet for renters nationwide.
Rent prices elsewhere in Texas
San Antonio saw the steepest drop in rent prices statewide, with one-bedroom rents falling by 10.4 percent to $950. Two-bedroom units have declined 6 percent year-over-year to $1,250.
Arlington was the only major Texas city where rent prices increased from May 2025 to May 2026. One-bedroom rent increased nearly 3 percent to $1,090, and two-bedroom rent increased 2.1 percent to $1,480.
Zumper
These are the rent prices for other Texas cities in May 2026:
- Austin: $1,420 for one-bedroom units; $1,860 for two-bedroom units
- Dallas: $1,350 for one bedroom; $1,900 for two bedrooms
- El Paso: $810 for one bedroom; $1,130 for two bedrooms
- Fort Worth: $1,240 for one bedroom; $1,560 for two bedrooms
- Irving: $1,280 for one bedroom; $1,610 for two bedrooms
- Plano: $1,360 for one bedroom; $1,900 for two bedrooms
