Last updated
Average Rent in Central Business District & Rent Trends
Rent prices and market trends across 13 apartment communities in Central Business District, Houston, TX. Updated daily.
Market Average
$2,176/mo
Lowest Available
$1,081/mo
cheapest unit on market
Communities
13
tracked daily
Units Listed
300
available now
Rent Watch: cuts and increases
Open Rent Watch →17 cuts and 6 increases among 48 comparable listings this week. Filter by bedrooms and budget, then inspect each building’s history.
- Camden McGowen Station Apartments
↑ $90/mo
Increase of 3.2% · Unit 862
- Camden Travis Street Apartments
↑ $60/mo
Increase of 2.8% · Unit 4024
Central Business District vs Houston, TX Average
Central Business District is more expensive than the Houston, TX average by $143/mo (7%). The citywide average is $2,033/mo across all neighborhoods.
Is Rent Going Up or Down in Central Business District?
As of October 2026, the average rent in Central Business District is $2,176 per month across 13 apartment communities and 300 available units.
The most affordable option is Houston House Apartments starting at $1,081/mo. By unit type, a studio averages $1,728/mo, a 1-bedroom averages $1,936/mo, a 2-bedroom averages $2,697/mo, a 3-bedroom averages $4,563/mo.
Prices range from $1,081 to $11,376 per month. The most common price point is the $1,400 range, where 52 units are currently listed.
Central Business District Rent Price History
View as table
| Month | Avg Rent | Change | Properties |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 2026 | $1,748 | - | 10 |
| May 2026 | $1,994 | +$246 | 11 |
| June 2026 | $2,209 | +$215 | 16 |
| July 2026 | $2,368 | +$159 | 19 |
| August 2026 | $2,301 | -$67 | 19 |
| September 2026 | $2,197 | -$104 | 20 |
| October 2026 | $2,451 | +$254 | 20 |
The trend line and monthly averages track each building's average listed price, recorded daily with outliers trimmed. The current month is a month-to-date figure, so it can sit above or below today's live market average shown at the top of this page.
Average Rent by Bedroom
Rent Price Distribution
Rent by Bedroom Type in Central Business District
Rent Prices by Apartment in Central Business District
| Property | Starting at | Average | Units | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston House Apartments | $1,081/mo | $1,537/mo | 8 | 2.8 |
| 2222 Smith Street | $1,163/mo | $1,439/mo | 4 | 3.7 |
| The Rice | $1,246/mo | $1,932/mo | 30 | 4.4 |
| SoDo on Main | $1,274/mo | $1,770/mo | 81 | 3.8 |
| 1810 Main Apartments | $1,304/mo | $1,304/mo | 1 | 4 |
| 1711 Caroline Apartments | $1,400/mo | $1,816/mo | 21 | 3.9 |
| 500 Crawford Downtown Apartments | $1,528/mo | $2,020/mo | 37 | 4.4 |
Frequently Asked Questions About Rent in Central Business District
What is the average rent in Central Business District?
Is rent going up or down in Central Business District?
What is the cheapest apartment in Central Business District?
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in Central Business District?
How many apartments are available in Central Business District?
What salary do I need to live comfortably in Central Business District?
Built on the 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
Minimum to afford average rent
$87,000/year
Based on the 30 percent rule, using our tracked average rent of $2,176/mo.
Comfortable income
$104,000/year
Based on the 25 percent rule, leaving more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($1,081/mo), you need to earn at least $43,000/year.
Median household income in Central Business District is $62,894 , about 40% below the comfortable-living threshold.
Cost of living in Central Business District
Overall prices in Central Business District matches the national average by about 0% (BEA Regional Price Parity index 99.7, where 100 equals the U.S. average). The breakdown below estimates monthly costs for a single adult, using national consumer-spending baselines from the Bureau of Labor Statistics scaled by Central Business District's regional price parities.
| Category | Monthly estimate |
|---|---|
| Rent (market average) | $2,176 |
| Utilities | $457 |
| Groceries | $549 |
| Transportation | $1,089 |
| Healthcare | $531 |
| Other goods and services | $850 |
| Estimated total | $5,653/mo |
Population
2,300,419
Median household income
$62,894
Census median rent
$1,313/mo
Census rent burden
31.6%
Median age
34.3
Mean commute
27 min
Methodology
Rent data
Sourced directly from each tracked apartment community and refreshed every 24 hours. Every listed unit price on this page is real and listed today.
Cost of living
Estimates combine national consumer-spending baselines from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Consumer Expenditure Survey) with the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (MARPP dataset). Both are peer-reviewed federal data releases published annually.
Salary to live comfortably
Applies the standard 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income rule on top of the listed rent. This is the same affordability guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
Demographic figures
Median household income, population, median age, commute time, Census median rent, and rent as percentage of income come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year estimates, the most recent complete release.
Cost of living and demographic figures were last published in 2023.
Google Search Trends for Central Business District Apartments
Search interest for apartments in this area over the past 12 months.
Search Interest Over Time
Explore Central Business District Apartments
Browse all 13 communities with daily-updated pricing and availability.