Renting 101
What apartments near the Texas Medical Center actually cost in 2026
Every apartment website advertises a number that starts with the word “from”. Here is what that number leaves out, and what the total actually looks like.
· 6 min read · by the leasing team at Regard at Med Center
The headline range
Across the Medical Center area in mid-2026, one bedroom apartments generally advertise between $1,100 and $1,900 a month, and two bedrooms between $1,500 and $2,600. Newer buildings within walking distance of the campus sit at the top of both ranges; older buildings a few miles out sit at the bottom.
For reference, our own one bedrooms start at $1,095 and our two bedrooms at $1,500, and we are four miles south of the campus. That is the trade the whole market runs on: distance for dollars.
Why “from” is doing a lot of work
The advertised price is the cheapest currently available unit on that floor plan. The same layout on a higher floor, with a better view, or available on a date more people want can be considerably more. On our own floor plans the spread between the cheapest and most expensive unit of the same layout runs up to about thirty per cent.
This is normal and not a trick — but it means you should never budget from the advertised figure. Ask for the quote on a specific unit with a specific move-in date.
What sits on top of rent
- Utility allocation. Water, trash and pest control are commonly billed separately in Texas rather than included. Budget roughly $60–$120 a month.
- Electricity. Set up directly with a retail provider. In a Houston summer a one bedroom can run $80–$150 a month; a larger two bedroom more.
- Parking. Open parking is usually included. Covered or reserved spaces are typically an extra monthly charge.
- Pets. Usually both a one-time fee and monthly pet rent.
- Renters insurance. Nearly always required. Inexpensive, but not zero.
Add it up and the realistic monthly cost of a $1,300 one bedroom is closer to $1,500 once everything is on the bill. Any leasing office worth dealing with will walk you through that total before you apply. If one will not, that is informative.
Lease length changes the price
Twelve months is the baseline and the cheapest per month. Shorter terms cost more — a three or six month lease carries a premium because the unit turns over more often, which costs the property money in cleaning, marketing and vacant weeks. Every community in the area prices this way.
If you need a short term because of a rotation or a course of treatment, ask directly. It is usually available on a limited number of homes and it is worth asking before you compromise on location.
What to ask on a tour
- What is the total monthly cost on this exact unit, with everything included?
- What is the price on a shorter term, if I need one?
- What is the deposit, and is it refundable?
- What does the renewal typically look like — how much did rents move here last year?
That last question is the one people forget. A cheap first year followed by a large renewal increase is a worse deal than a slightly higher rent that holds.
Questions
Is rent negotiable?
The base rate usually is not, but lease term, move-in date and concessions often are. Asking what the office can do on a specific unit costs nothing.
What credit score do I need?
It varies by community and is usually assessed alongside income rather than on its own. Most screen for income at around three times the monthly rent. Ask what the specific criteria are before paying an application fee.
Written by the leasing team at Regard at Med Center, 8877 Lakes at 610 Dr, Houston, TX 77054. If something here is out of date or you think we’ve got it wrong, tell us — we would rather fix it than leave it.
