San Antonio ranks sixth
For people who prefer their own space, San Antonio stands out in an Apartments.com comparison of the 50 largest U.S. metropolitan areas. The city ranks sixth for rental affordability when living alone.
Amber Heckler covered the findings for CultureMap San Antonio on October 20, 2026. This is an original summary with local context: credit for the original reporting belongs to Heckler and CultureMap, while the data analysis comes from Apartments.com.
The numbers behind the ranking
The report lists a one-bedroom asking rent of $1,082 per month and median annual renter household income of $51,029 in San Antonio. That produces a 25.4% ratio, below the study’s 30% benchmark.
- San Antonio ranks sixth among the 50 metros analyzed.
- Austin leads the ranking, and Dallas–Fort Worth also makes the top ten.
- Only 24 of the 50 metros meet the 30% benchmark.
Household income is not the income of every solo renter
The methodology combines renter household incomes from the Census Bureau’s 2024 ACS with CoStar’s 2025 one-bedroom asking rents. It is a market comparison, not a measurement of every individual living alone.
The quoted rent is not a current rental offer or a guarantee that a particular home is available at that price. Location, size, included services and lease terms can change the total cost.
Put the ranking in context
Before choosing a home, compare actual options. Ask about additional fees, parking, utilities, deposits and renewal terms. Consider your commute and the amount of space you need.
If you are considering buying, this rental study does not establish that ownership is cheaper. A meaningful comparison distinguishes a one-bedroom apartment from the full cost of a house, including down payment, closing costs, property taxes, insurance and maintenance.
You can explore available properties on our site and ask Pedro about their features and terms. The goal is to match a home to your needs—not turn a broad statistic into an individual promise.