How Much Apartment Can You Afford in Texas vs. California?

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Though they do have certain things in common, such as mild winters in most regions and diverse economies, Texas and California are wildly dissimilar. The starkest difference between the two is their respective politics. California is as blue as it gets, while Texas is firmly Republican. And then, of course, there’s the discrepancy between costs of living. Texas is a radically cheaper place to live — so much so that droves of Californians are relocating to the Lone Star State. 

The cost of living in Texas is 7% lower than the national average, according to RentCafe, and the cost of housing is 17% lower. It’s quite a different story in California, where, according to RentCafe, the cost of living is 38% higher than the national average and the cost of housing is 97% higher. Obviously, you can get a bigger, probably nicer place to rent in Texas than you could in most of California for the same price if not less, but let’s get specific. 

GOBankingRates analyzed cities in California and Texas to find the average rent for overall apartments, the average rent for one-bedroom apartments and the average rent for two-bedroom apartments — all sourced from ApartmentList.com. 

Here’s a look at how much apartment you can afford in Texas and California cities with a livability index of 75 and up (as sourced from AreaVibes). Cities are listed in order from lowest to highest livability.  

Forney, Texas 

• Population: 25,269 
• Livability index: 75
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,662  
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,445 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,887 

Farmers Branch, Texas  

• Population: 35,985 
• Livability index: 75
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,767  
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,642 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,952 

West Hollywood, California 

• Population: 35,358 
• Livability index: 75
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,115 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,961 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,547 

Rocklin, California 

• Population: 71,676 
• Livability index: 75
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,433  
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,895 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,419 

Abilene, Texas

• Population: 126,356 
• Livability index: 75
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,085 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $845 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,083 

Santa Monica, California 

• Population: 92,168 
• Livability index: 75
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,472 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,340 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,805 

Chula Vista, California

• Population: 276,103 
• Livability index: 75
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,367 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,739 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,275 

San Francisco

• Population: 851,036 
• Livability index: 75
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,673 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,698 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $3,198 

San Diego

• Population: 1,383,987 
• Livability index: 75
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,309 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,968 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,466 

Waxahachie, Texas 

• Population: 41,801 
• Livability index: 76
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,557 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,478 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,451 

Hurst, Texas 

• Population: 40,053 
• Livability index: 76
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,353 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,227 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,428  

Temple, Texas 

• Population: 83,473 
• Livability index: 76
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,028 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $840 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,005 

Newport Beach, California

• Population: 85,159 
• Livability index: 76
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $3,210 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,677 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $3,324 

League City, Texas

• Population: 113,469 
• Livability index: 76
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,661 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,360 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,720 

Burbank, California

• Population: 106,389 
• Livability index: 76
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,108 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,803 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,428 

Hayward, California

• Population: 160,602 
• Livability index: 76
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,503 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,251 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,532 

Santa Rosa, California 

• Population: 178,221 
• Livability index: 76
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,895 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,457 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,962 

Irvine, California 

• Population: 304,527 
• Livability index: 76
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,959 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,511 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $3,079 

Emeryville, California 

• Population: 12,840 
• Livability index: 77
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,937 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,846 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $3,436 

San Bruno, California

• Population: 43,218 
• Livability index: 77
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,867 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,447 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,968 

Galveston, Texas 

• Population: 53,265 
• Livability index: 77
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,311 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,145 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,395 

La Mesa, California

• Population: 60,888 
• Livability index: 77
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,091 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,853 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,221 

Allen, Texas 

• Population: 105,444 
• Livability index: 77
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,777 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,422 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,806 

Carlsbad, California

• Population: 114,745 
• Livability index: 77
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,274 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,894 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,244 

Carrollton, Texas  

• Population: 132,284 
• Livability index: 77
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,581 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,327 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,664 

Roseville, California 

• Population: 148,879 
• Livability index: 77
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,095  
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,709 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,132 

Boerne, Texas 

• Population: 18,475 
• Livability index: 78
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,501 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,249 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,473 

Aliso Viejo, California  

• Population: 51,896 
• Livability index: 78
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,925 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,557 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $3,019 

Camarillo, California

• Population: 70,622 
• Livability index: 78
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,591 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,108 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,537 

San Marcos, Texas 

• Population: 67,143 
• Livability index: 78
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,204 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,091 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,245 

Berkeley, California

• Population: 121,385 
• Livability index: 78
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,941 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,790  
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,160 

Midland, Texas 

• Population: 132,490 
• Livability index: 78
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,676 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,421 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,762 

Frisco, Texas 

• Population: 202,075 
• Livability index: 78
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,861 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,489 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,944 

Irving, Texas 

• Population: 254,962 
• Livability index: 78
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,444 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,270 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,563 

Arlington, Texas 

• Population: 393,469 
• Livability index: 78
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,347 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,164 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,372 

Coppell, Texas 

• Population: 42,513 
• Livability index: 79
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,795 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,387 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,852 

Bedford, Texas 

• Population: 49,455 
• Livability index: 79
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,361 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,191 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,538

Vacaville, California  

• Population: 101,631 
• Livability index: 79
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,428 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,884 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,313 

Santa Clara, California 

• Population: 128,058  
• Livability index: 79
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $3,014 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,740 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $3,140 

Grand Prairie, Texas 

• Population: 197,279  
• Livability index: 79
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,431 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,213 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,459 

San Jose, California

• Population: 1,001,176 
• Livability index: 79
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,792 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,429 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,882 

Round Rock, Texas  

• Population: 120,465 
• Livability index: 80
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,469 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,193 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,443 

Corpus Christi, Texas 

• Population: 317,804 
• Livability index: 80
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,249 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,036 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,267 

Fort Worth, Texas 

• Population: 924,663 
• Livability index: 80
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,381 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,179 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,361 

San Antonio 

• Population: 1,445,662 
• Livability index: 80
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,209 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,033 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,272 

Leander, Texas  

• Population: 62,491 
• Livability index: 81
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,640 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,207 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,276 

San Mateo, California

• Population: 104,165 
• Livability index: 81
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $3,178 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,815 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $3,526 

Pearland, Texas 

• Population: 124,478 
• Livability index: 81
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,572 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,357 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,620 

El Paso, Texas 

• Population: 677,181 
• Livability index: 81
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,134 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $903 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,081 

Dallas

• Population: 1,300,642 
• Livability index: 81
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,354 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,237 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,464 

Pflugerville, Texas 

• Population: 64,528 
• Livability index: 82
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,628 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,352 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,562 

College Station, Texas 

• Population: 120,451 
• Livability index: 82
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,200 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,045 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,106 

Sunnyvale, California

• Population: 154,573 
• Livability index: 82
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $3,048 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,758 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $3,236 

Grapevine, Texas 

• Population: 50,763  
• Livability index: 83
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,858 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,601 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,949

Cedar Park, Texas 

• Population: 76,344 
• Livability index: 83
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,575 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,257 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,615 

Georgetown, Texas   

• Population: 71,788 
• Livability index: 83
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,489 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,226 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,508 

New Braunfels, Texas 

• Population: 92,993 
• Livability index: 83
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,398 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,284 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,389 

Fremont, California

• Population: 228,795 
• Livability index: 83
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,716 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,257 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,735 

Plano, Texas

• Population: 284,948 
• Livability index: 83
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,731 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,432 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,812 

Austin, Texas

• Population: 958,202 
• Livability index: 83
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,470 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,302 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,585 

Milpitas, California

• Population: 79,092 
• Livability index: 84
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,952 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,661 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,949 

Pleasanton, California

• Population: 78,691 
• Livability index: 84
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,733 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,146 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,767 

Richardson, Texas  

• Population: 118,063 
• Livability index: 84
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,696 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,418 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,812 

Dublin, California

• Population: 71,068 
• Livability index: 85
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $3,130 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,681 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $3,104 

Redwood City, California

• Population: 83,077 
• Livability index: 85
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $3,035 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,693 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $3,411 

Daly City, California

• Population: 103,648 
• Livability index: 85
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,847 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,535 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $3,121 

Denton, Texas

• Population: 142,262 
• Livability index: 85
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,340 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,113 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,390 

Livermore, California

• Population: 87,154 
• Livability index: 86
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,573 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,937 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $2,519 

Mountain View, California  

• Population: 82,132 
• Livability index: 86
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $2,944 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $2,699 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $3,282 

The Woodlands, Texas 

• Population: 118,402 
• Livability index: 91
• Average rent for an apartment overall: $1,737 
• Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment: $1,272 
• Average rent for a two-bedroom apartment: $1,694 

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed cities in California and Texas to find the average price for apartments by bedroom size; overall, one-bedroom and two-bedroom. First, GOBankingRates found the total population, total households, median household income all sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey, the average rent for overall apartments, average rent for one-bedroom apartments, and average rent for two-bedroom apartments all sourced from ApartmentList.com, the livability index as sourced from AreaVibes, the cost of living indexes as sourced from Sperlings BestPlaces, and the average expenditure costs for all residents as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey for all residents. Using the cost of living indexes and the average expenditure costs, the average expenditure costs for each city can be calculated. The average rent by bedroom sizes can be added to the expenditure cost to find the average total cost of living for different bedroom sizes. The cities were sorted by total population to show costs of living in different cities at different sizes to find the apartments you can afford in Texas and California. All data was collected on and is up to date as of May 28, 2024.

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