salaryRent is lower than in 63% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 5.4 years of household income.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $56,320 a year. That is $27 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other Texas cities?
Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of Texas. It is number 198 of 426 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Galveston?
Share of households by yearly income. 22.0% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Galveston
| Size | Galveston | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,015 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,196 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,497 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,898 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,185 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Galveston overall?
Everyday prices in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands metro area are 1% below the U.S. average (index 98.6, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024.
Taxes and bills in Galveston
Life in Galveston
What jobs pay in Galveston
| Job | Median pay | Rent / pay |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyer | $157,980 | 10.7% |
| Pharmacist | $140,470 | 12.0% |
| Physician Assistant | $137,240 | 12.3% |
| Nurse Practitioner | $134,560 | 12.6% |
| Software Developer | $129,440 | 13.1% |
| Operations Manager | $119,600 | 14.1% |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $113,440 | 14.9% |
| Dental Hygienist | $104,930 | 16.1% |
| Civil Engineer | $100,950 | 16.7% |
| Registered Nurse | $99,830 | 16.9% |
| Accountant | $85,090 | 19.9% |
| Police Officer | $74,570 | 22.7% |
| Market Research Analyst | $67,370 | 25.1% |
| Elementary School Teacher | $64,500 | 26.2% |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $63,670 | 26.5% |
| Plumber | $61,300 | 27.6% |
| Electrician | $59,180 | 28.6% |
| Firefighter | $59,120 | 28.6% |
| HVAC Technician | $58,940 | 28.7% |
| Truck Driver | $56,840 | 29.7% |
| Carpenter | $49,670 | 34.0% |
| Medical Assistant | $42,110 | 40.1% |
| Customer Service Representative | $40,380 | 41.8% |
| Warehouse Worker | $38,000 | 44.5% |
| Nursing Assistant | $37,970 | 44.5% |
| Restaurant Cook | $35,050 | 48.2% |
| Retail Salesperson | $31,340 | 53.9% |
| Cashier | $29,350 | 57.6% |
| Server (Waiter/Waitress) | $22,080 | 76.5% |
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Galveston?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $854 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $326,000 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $32,600 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Galveston, TX?
Renting in Galveston costs a median of about $1,408 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Texas median is $1,451.
How much do I need to make to live in Galveston?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $56,320 a year, or $27 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Galveston cheap or expensive?
Galveston is rated OK: rent takes 28.2% of the typical household income of $59,998. It ranks 198th cheapest of 426 Texas cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Galveston?
The median homeowner in Galveston pays $3,510 a year in property taxes, about 1.08% of the median home value.
Is Galveston more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in the metro area are 1% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Galveston?
The median home value in Galveston is $326,000, about 5.4 times the typical yearly household income.
53,424 people live in Galveston. Numbers are typical (middle) values.