A new RentCafe report has found San Marcos' alluring market for renters has earned it a top-30 spot among the best U.S. cities for renters in 2025. San Antonio also made an impressive leap into the top 50 this year.

RentCafe's "Best Cities for Renters to Live in 2025" report annually compares 150 U.S. cities based on 20 factors examining their quality of life, local economy, and cost of living and housing opportunities. The report notes that cities were chosen if they had an "apartment stock" consisting of a minimum 10,000 units, and any cities with lower apartment stocks were excluded.

San Marcos ranked 27th overall on the list in a spectacular 28-place jump from its 2024 ranking, while San Antonio moved up 21 spots into No. 44 this year.

The Dallas suburb McKinney claimed the title as the No. 1 best city for renters after dethroning Charleston, South Carolina, which had held the top spot for the last two years. Charleston has since slumped into the No. 7 spot for 2025.

Rounding out the top five best U.S. cities for renters this year are Sarasota, Florida (No. 2), Atlanta, Georgia (No. 3), Austin, Texas (No. 4), and Huntsville, Alabama (No. 5).

San Marcos received high praise for its affordability, as the city's cost of living is 9.5 percent lower than the national average, according to the report's findings. San Marcos' housing and affordability earned it No. 2 in the report's ranking of all cities based on their housing and cost of living.

San Marcos also boasts the largest average apartment sizes in Texas, at 988 square feet, which is also the 16th biggest apartment size on average nationally.

Despite having a shining reputation for its budget-friendliness, San Marcos unfortunately loses out in the "local economy" and "quality of life" categories. RentCafe says San Marcos' local economy is only the 60th best in the nation, and it has the "worst" quality of life out of all U.S. cities, ranking No. 150, without explaining why.

San Antonio tumbled into the No. 65 spot last year, but it may be getting its charm back as it now ranks as the 44th best city for renters to live in 2025. Its low cost of living – nearly nine percent lower than the national average – plus its pet-friendliness and affordability for families make it an attractive place for individuals looking to put down roots.

Elsewhere in Texas
Overall, it appears most Texas cities made slight improvements in the rankings since last year. Austin and its northern suburb Round Rock both remained in the top 10 this year, but the Texas Capital surpassed its neighbor to claim the No. 4 spot, leaving Round Rock behind as the 8th best city for renters.

"The South firmly establishes itself as the top region for renters in 2025, by claiming an impressive 41 of the 50 featured cities," the report said. "From major rental markets like Atlanta and Austin, TX, to rising stars such as McKinney, TX, and Round Rock, TX, the South’s strong presence in the top 10 highlights its increasing appeal to renters across the board."

Here's how other Texas cities stacked up among the top 100 in RentCafe's report:

• No. 11 – Plano (up from No. 17 last year)
• No. 24 – Conroe (up from No. 31 last year)
• No. 33 – Denton (up from No. 38 last year)
• No. 38 – Fort Worth (up from No. 53 last year)
• No. 57 – Dallas (unchanged from 2024)
• No. 58 – Lubbock (unchanged from 2024)
• No. 63 – Midland (down from No. 52 last year)
• No. 69 – Amarillo (up from No. 85 last year)
• No. 70 – Houston (up from No. 71 last year)
• No. 88 – Waco (up from No. 91 last year)