With the American Automobile Association showing that gas prices are higher than those of years past, the last thing one wants is to also worry about high rent. Still, Texas, with its green spaces and traditions, is the choice of many when it comes time to make a move.
Personal finance company WalletHub recently released a 2026 report ranking a sample of 182 cities in the U.S. to help renters make more informed decisions. Each was scored by taking the median annual gross rent and comparing it against the average household income of that location.
Researchers say this is because of findings from the Federal Reserve’s Consumer Price Index. In looking at the numbers for March 2026 (the most recent data) and March 2016, it cites that the average rent for a primary residence in the U.S. has risen by a little more than 50 percent. However, 2024 data from StreetEasy shows wage growth in most of the country hasn’t matched that pace, which can pose an issue for residents.
“In the most affordable cities for renters, the median cost of rent is as low as 15% of the median income, compared to nearly 34% in the most expensive cities,” WalletHub writer and analyst Chip Lupo wrote in the report. “This gives people in the least expensive cities a clear financial advantage; the money they save on rent could go toward their emergency fund or savings for future home ownership.”
The study names Laredo at No.18, citing that it has significantly lower prices than Plano (No. 25), Amarillo (No. 28), and Brownsville (No. 47). Meanwhile, San Antonio landed at No. 110, meaning it was only slightly cheaper than that recorded in Sacramento, California (No. 111 nationally), per the report.
The U.S. Census Bureau cites San Antonio’s median gross rent as $1,324 as of 2024. This can be compared to its median household income of $65,056. Meanwhile, Sacramento’s rent price is listed as $1,779 during the same year. Its median household income was $87,321, per the agency.
Overall, examiners discovered that Bismarck, North Dakota, took the gold when it came to affordability by its measures.
“The median annual gross rent in the city is around 15.3% of the median annual income,” the report states. “For comparison, Miami residents spend more than double that, or 33.8% of their income.”