Houston is massive. It’s an urban sprawl so vast that calling it a city feels almost inaccurate. It’s really more like a small nation with traffic jams. And while the cost of living is still better than places like Austin or Dallas, finding affordable rent within city limits is getting trickier. Fortunately, several affordable Houston suburbs offer cheaper housing, more space, and the ability to run errands without plotting your route like a high-stakes operation.
Houston’s housing market at a glance
Houston’s housing market is still more affordable than many major cities, but prices have been creeping up. Fortunately, several nearby suburbs offer lower rents and more space without sacrificing convenience. Here’s a quick look at Houston’s current housing prices before diving into eight of the most affordable Houston suburbs for renters in 2025.
| Average 1-bedroom rent in Houston | $1,249 |
| Average 2-bedroom rent in Houston | $1,561 |
| Median home price in Houston | $314,950 |
1. Atascocita
This is the kind of place where you can live near a lake, but nobody will judge you if you never actually go near the water.
- Average 1-bedroom rent: $863
- Distance from Houston: 25 miles northeast
- Drive time to Houston: About 30 minutes
With an average 1-bedroom rent of $863 per month, Atascocita is the most affordable Houston suburb on this list. Atascocita gives you easy access to Lake Houston, which means you can boat, fish, or just stare at the water and ponder life’s twists and turns. The housing market in Atascocita is a healthy mix of affordable apartments and spacious suburban homes, making it one of the best places in the Houston area for renters to get the most bang for their buck.
2. Pasadena
A city where you can explore one of the country’s biggest urban nature preserves, then spend the rest of the day complaining about mosquitoes.
- Average 1-bedroom rent: $950
- Distance from Houston: 15 miles southeast
- Drive time to Houston: About 20 minutes
At $950 per month on average for a 1-bedroom, Pasadena is one of the most affordable Houston suburbs while still being within a reasonable commute of Houston. It’s home to Armand Bayou Nature Center, a sprawling urban wilderness where you can hike, kayak, or just admire the fact that some parts of Texas still have trees. Housing options in Pasadena range from affordable apartments to single-family homes that don’t require you to sell off the family heirlooms to afford rent.
3. Webster
Halfway between Houston and outer space, this suburb is perfect if you love shopping malls, astronauts, or both.
- Average 1-bedroom rent: $987
- Distance from Houston: 22 miles southeast
- Drive time to Houston: About 25 minutes
Coming in at $987 per month on average for a 1-bedroom, Webster is what happens when you take a small town and throw a space program at it. Home to Space Center Houston, this suburb lets you live in affordable housing while still being close enough to pass actual astronauts on your morning commute. Challenger Seven Memorial Park has trails and a lake in case you need a break from civilization. Housing options in Webster include apartments, suburban homes, and townhomes with price tags that actually make sense.
4. Texas City
A place where you can fish, stroll along a five-mile dike, and still afford rent without needing to sell plasma twice a week.
- Average 1-bedroom rent: $1,074
- Distance from Houston: 41 miles southeast
- Drive time to Houston: About 45 minutes
With an average 1-bedroom rent of $1,074 per month, Texas City is the place for people who love waterfront views but don’t want to pay Galveston prices. The Texas City Dike stretches five miles into Galveston Bay, making it a prime fishing spot for any interested anglers. Housing options in Texas City are a mixed bag of waterfront apartments, townhomes, and single-family houses that don’t come with the usual coastal markup.
5. Baytown
If your dream home includes kayaking through marshes by day and floating in a lazy river by night, Baytown has you covered.
- Average 1-bedroom rent: $1,137
- Distance from Houston: 26 miles east
- Drive time to Houston: About 30 minutes
At $1,137 per month for a 1-bedroom, Baytown is where you go when you want affordable rent and nature without actually moving out into the sticks. Baytown Nature Center is a sprawling preserve with wetlands, trails, and wildlife habitats that make you forget you’re in an industrial town. The Lynchburg Ferry gives you an old-school way to cross the Houston Ship Channel for free.
6. Kingwood
A master-planned community so well designed that even its trees seem to have a HOA agreement.
- Average 1-bedroom rent: $1,138
- Distance from Houston: 25 miles northeast
- Drive time to Houston: About 30 minutes
The average monthly rent for a 1-bedroom in Kingwood is $1,138, making it one of Houston’s best-kept secrets. East End Park has scenic walking trails, Kingwood Town Center Park keeps the community social, and Deerbrook Mall makes sure you don’t have to visit friends living in Houston just to go shopping.
7. Humble
One of the only suburbs where you can spend the morning admiring exotic plants, the afternoon feeding a goat, and the evening wondering how your rent is still this low.
- Average 1-bedroom rent: $1,205
- Distance from Houston: 20 miles north
- Drive time to Houston: About 25 minutes
At $1,205 per month on average for a 1-bedroom, Humble is a suburb with just the right mix of affordability and outdoor space. Mercer Botanic Gardens is a great place to unplug and Old MacDonald’s Farm lets you get up close with farm animals. The housing market in Humble is full of affordable apartments, townhomes, and suburban houses, all priced low enough to make you wonder how anyone is still paying city prices.
8. Deer Park
This town has a historic battlefield, a retired battleship, and an excellent park system—so, basically, a history teacher’s dream.
- Average 1-bedroom rent: $1,222
- Distance from Houston: 21 miles east
- Drive time to Houston: About 25 minutes
Coming in at an average of $1,222 per month for a 1-bedroom, Deer Park is great for people who like their suburbs with a little Texas history. The San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site is where Texas won its independence from Mexico, and the Battleship Texas is permanently docked here so you can walk through history without enlisting. Dow Park adds an appealing outdoorsy touch with tennis courts, picnic areas, and a swimming pool.
Make an affordable Houston suburb your home
Finding affordable Houston suburbs isn’t impossible—you just have to decide what matters most. If you want the absolute cheapest rent, Atascocita is the place. Are waterfront views are your thing? Texas City and Baytown are worth the drive. If you like nature with a side of history, Deer Park has you covered. Regardless of where you end up, the suburbs on this list prove that you can live near Houston on a budget without sacrificing quality of life.
Affordability is based on whether a suburb’s one-bedroom rent was less than Houston’s average rent and under 45 miles from downtown Houston. Average rental data from Houston rental market trends in February, 2025. Population data sourced from the United States Census Bureau.
