San Marcos, TX at a glance
Median household income
$51,281$4,273 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in San Marcos, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in San Marcos, TX? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,474 | $17,688 | $58,960 | 34.5% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,562 | $18,744 | $62,480 | 36.6% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,852 | $22,224 | $74,080 | 43.3% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $2,347 | $28,164 | $93,880 | 54.9% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $2,760 | $33,120 | $110,400 | 64.6% |
What a typical income covers in San Marcos, TX
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $51,281 a year ($4,273 a month before tax).
What $51,281 leaves after Texas taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Texas tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Texas
Living in San Marcos, TX: common questions
What is the median household income in San Marcos, TX?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in San Marcos, TX is $51,281 per year (approximately $4,273 per month).
What is the average rent in San Marcos, TX?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,474 for a studio, $1,562 for one bedroom, $1,852 for two, $2,347 for three and $2,760 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is San Marcos, TX expensive to live in?
Prices there run 1.9% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 98.1, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in San Marcos, TX?
To keep a $1,852 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $74,080 a year, or $6,173 a month. That is 144% of what the typical household in San Marcos, TX earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in San Marcos, TX?
On the local median income of $51,281 ($4,273 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,137 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,282 for everything else and $855 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,852 takes 87% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in San Marcos, TX?
Homes in Texas paid 15.9¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $143. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.