Graduating from Texas A&M and heading to Dallas, Houston, Austin, or San Antonio is exciting—but the price tags on those shiny midrise and highrise apartments can be confusing fast. Rents, parking, amenity fees, valet trash, pet rent, utilities… it all adds up.
This guide will walk you through typical rent ranges and monthly fees for midrises and highrises in the major Texas cities where Aggies most often move. You’ll see big-picture averages, what’s realistic for a new grad salary, and how to avoid fee surprises in your first lease.
First Things First: Use a Free Apartment Locator (It’s Truly a Win-Win)
Before we dive into the numbers, here’s your biggest money and time saver:
Get an expert in apartment locating for the city you are going to.
Their expertise will save you hours and days of time, and they are typically free. They make their money by collecting a small commission from the apartment. But by using them you pay no extra rent, and you get the same rent deals the property is offering to everyone else. It’s truly a win-win to use an apartment locator.
That’s where our free Howdy Apartments service comes in.
👉 Free signup here: https://howdyapartments.com/start
We look at your budget, your job location, your preferred lifestyle, and then match you to apartments that actually make sense—including what your real monthly cost will be, not just the base rent.
Quick Baseline: Average One-Bedroom Rents in Each City
These are citywide average one-bedroom rents, across all building types (not just luxury mid/highrises):
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Dallas: Around $1,400–$1,450 for a one-bedroom. RentCafe
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Houston: Around $1,200 for a one-bedroom. RentCafe
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Austin: Around $1,400–$1,450 for a one-bedroom. RentCafe
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San Antonio: Around $1,050–$1,110 for a one-bedroom. RentCafe+1
These numbers include older properties and suburban locations. Newer midrises and highrises in prime areas will sit above these averages, sometimes significantly.
Midrises vs Highrises: Price Positioning
Most Texas apartments for young professionals fall into two buckets:
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Midrises: Usually 4–8 stories, structured parking, good amenities, often in strong but slightly less “core” locations.
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Highrises: 12+ stories, often in the heart of the city with big views, premium amenities, and prime walkability.
Because of land cost, construction type, and amenity levels, highrises almost always cost more than midrises in the same general area—on both rent and fees. Corken Company+1
A reasonable rule of thumb in Texas major metros:
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Midrise vs. average city rent: typically 10–30% above citywide averages.
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Highrise vs. midrise: typically another 15–40% higher, especially in downtown or “trophy” neighborhoods.
Typical Price Ranges for Midrises & Highrises (Graduating Aggie Level)
These are ballpark ranges for newer Class A midrises and highrises that young professionals commonly choose—not the ultra-luxury penthouse level, but also not the older budget stock.
Dallas
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Midrise 1-bed in good urban areas (Uptown, Knox, Victory, parts of Oak Lawn):
Roughly $1,600–$2,000 per month. -
Highrise 1-bed in prime areas (Uptown/Victory/Downtown view units):
Roughly $2,000–$2,600+ per month.
Citywide 1-bed averages around $1,400, so you can see how popular mid/highrise neighborhoods sit above that baseline. RentCafe+1
Houston
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Midrise 1-bed in inner-loop areas (Midtown, Washington Corridor, Museum District, Montrose-area new builds):
Typically $1,400–$1,900. -
Highrise 1-bed in top-tier locations (Downtown, River Oaks, Galleria, Museum District towers):
Often $1,900–$2,600+, with brand-new luxury towers starting near $1,995 for 1-beds in some Museum District projects. RentCafe+1
Houston’s citywide 1-bed sits closer to $1,200, so living in a newer inner-loop midrise or highrise is usually a step up in cost but also in lifestyle.
Austin
Austin is a tale of two markets: citywide vs Downtown/East highrise core.
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Citywide midrise 1-bed in good neighborhoods (North Burnet, East Austin, South Lamar, Mueller):
Commonly $1,500–$2,000. -
Highrise 1-bed in Downtown or right next to it:
Frequently in the $2,400–$2,900 range, sometimes higher. Data for Downtown Austin 1-beds shows averages in the mid-$2,600s to upper $2,700s. RentCafe+2Zumper – Apartments for Rent & Houses+2
So an Aggie choosing downtown highrise living in Austin is often paying about double the cost of an older suburb 1-bed—but getting unmatched walkability, amenities, and skyline views.
San Antonio
San Antonio is still the most budget-friendly of the four big markets.
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Midrise 1-bed in strong areas (Pearl, Broadway corridor, Medical Center newer builds):
Usually $1,200–$1,600. -
Highrise or high-end midrise 1-bed near downtown/Pearl:
Often $1,900–$2,500, depending on building age, finishes, and views.
With a citywide 1-bed average just over $1,000, newer mid/highrise product is a noticeable step up, but still cheaper than comparable towers in Austin or Dallas. RentCafe+1
The Hidden Part: Monthly Fees That Stack on Top of Rent
When you’re comparing midrise vs highrise pricing, you can’t just look at base rent. Most new properties in the big Texas metros tack on a combination of these:
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Parking:
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Surface or uncovered: sometimes free at midrises in non-core areas
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Covered or carport: $35–$75/mo
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Garage parking (midrise): $60–$125/mo
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Garage parking (highrise or core urban): $100–$200+/mo, especially in Downtown/Medical Center/Uptown locations
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Valet Trash:
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Often $25–$40/mo, rarely optional.
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Amenity / Tech / “Community” Fees:
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Often $25–$75/mo, covering pools, gyms, package systems, Wi-Fi in common areas, smart locks, etc.
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Package Fees:
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Some communities charge $5–$15/mo or a per-package fee.
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Pet Rent & Pet Fees:
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One-time pet fee: $300–$500 per pet.
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Pet rent: $20–$35 per pet per month.
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Utilities Admin Fees:
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Small monthly charges for billing water/gas/trash together: $5–$15/mo, plus the actual usage.
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Highrises are more likely to have higher parking costs, more premium amenity packages, and extra add-ons because you’re paying for the tower experience and expensive land. Laredo Morning Times+1
How to Estimate Your Real Monthly Cost
When you’re budgeting as a new Aggie grad, here’s a simple formula:
Real Monthly Cost ≈ Base Rent + Parking + Valet Trash + Amenity/Tech Fees + Pet Rent + Average Utilities
For many graduating Aggies moving into a midrise, reasonable “all-in” expectations:
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Dallas / Houston midrise 1-bed:
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Base rent: $1,600–$1,900
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Fees + utilities: $200–$300
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Total: About $1,800–$2,200/month
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Austin / San Antonio midrise 1-bed:
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Base rent: $1,500–$1,900 (Austin) or $1,200–$1,600 (San Antonio)
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Fees + utilities: $200–$300
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Total: Roughly $1,700–$2,200 in Austin; $1,400–$1,900 in San Antonio
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For highrises, especially in prime locations:
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It’s common for the all-in total for a 1-bed to land in the $2,300–$3,000+ range in Dallas, Houston, or Austin core districts, and about $2,000–$2,500 in San Antonio’s nicest towers.
These are big numbers—but not unusual for young professionals in major metros in 2025.
Aggie Tips to Keep Costs Under Control
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Decide midrise vs highrise early.
If skyline views aren’t a must, a midrise in a great neighborhood can give you 80–90% of the lifestyle at a much friendlier price. -
Ask for an “all-in” estimate.
When touring, have the leasing team show you base rent + recurring monthly fees + typical utilities for your floorplan. -
Be smart about parking.
In some locations you can do: one reserved space + one street-parked car, or even no car if you’re in a very walkable area. -
Look at 13–15 month leases.
Longer leases sometimes come with lower effective rents, especially in slower leasing seasons. -
Compare neighborhoods, not just buildings.
Downtown Austin vs North Austin, or Uptown Dallas vs farther north, can change your budget by hundreds of dollars per month. -
Use Howdy Apartments to negotiate and compare.
We know which buildings are offering specials, where the fees are reasonable, and which ones quietly tack on too much.
Final Thoughts for Graduating Aggies
Understanding average prices and monthly fees is what turns apartment hunting from stressful to strategic. Midrises and highrises in Texas big cities can absolutely fit a new grad’s budget—if you choose the right building, neighborhood, and lease structure.
Your first place after Texas A&M should feel like a launchpad, not a financial anchor.
And you don’t have to figure all of this out on your own.
HOWDY APARTMENTS CONTACT SECTION
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👉 Sign up here: howdyapartments.com/start
📲 Call or text me anytime: Grant – 214-492-9791
