Harlingen

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Harlingen, TX

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Charming south Texas town boasts access to numerous amenities.

Historic Affordable Quiet Family-Friendly

Harlingen is located on the southernmost tip of Texas, in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley near the United States-Mexico border. While Harlingen is a small town, it has plenty of charm in addition to numerous amenities. It was also named the city with the least expensive cost of living in the United States by CBS News in 2013.

Should you choose to rent in Harlingen, you will have the opportunity to see the Gladys Porter Zoo, catch a performance at the Harlingen Performing Arts Theatre, score deals at the Rio Grande Valley Premium Outlets, stroll along historic Jackson Street in Downtown Harlingen, visit any of the nine World Birding Center locations, admire the large wall murals scattered throughout town, and take a short drive to South Padre Island to enjoy the beach.

Accessible to I-2 and I-69 as well as the Union Pacific Railroad and Valley International Airport, getting around from Harlingen is a breeze.

Explore the City

Sand sculpture on nearby South Padre Island

Enjoy beautiful South Texas sunsets

Rent Trends

As of March 2025, the average apartment rent in Harlingen, TX is $670 for a studio, $816 for one bedroom, $920 for two bedrooms, and $1,146 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Harlingen has increased by 3.6% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$816/month
659 Sq Ft
House
$1,757/month
1,072 Sq Ft
Townhome
$1,545/month
1,187 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Harlingen, TX

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Harlingen, TX is 18.6% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Harlingen is 32.4% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $670 - $1,146. You can expect to pay 6.1% less for groceries, 12.5% more for utilities, and 15.0% less for transportation.

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Transportation

41

Car-Dependent

out of 100 WalkScore® Rating

This area is considered a car-dependent area and most errands will require a car.

39

Somewhat Bikeable

out of 100 BikeScore® Rating

You might be able to find places to ride your bike in this area, but you’ll most likely want your car for most errands.

Schools

Lee H Means El

Public

Grades PK-5

734 Students

9
out of 10

Bowie Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

337 Students

8
out of 10

Wilson Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

393 Students

7
out of 10

Stuart Place Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

613 Students

6
out of 10

Dr Hesiquio Rodriguez Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

610 Students

6
out of 10

Harlingen School Of Health Professions

Public

Grades 8-12

376 Students

8
out of 10

Memorial Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

751 Students

7
out of 10

Gutierrez Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

819 Students

6
out of 10

Moises Vela Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

742 Students

6
out of 10

Vernon Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

715 Students

5
out of 10

Early College High School

Public

Grades 9-12

339 Students

9
out of 10

Harlingen School Of Health Professions

Public

Grades 8-12

376 Students

8
out of 10

Harlingen High School - South

Public

Grades 9-12

1,571 Students

6
out of 10

Harlingen High School

Public

Grades 9-12

1,942 Students

4
out of 10

Dr Abraham P Cano Freshman Academy

Public

Grades 9

1,188 Students

4
out of 10

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Harlingen Arroyo Colorado
  • Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge

Airports

  • Valley International
  • Brownsville/South Padre Island International

Top Apartments in Harlingen

Houses for Rent in Harlingen

Property Management Companies in Harlingen, TX

Living in Harlingen

Highlights

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World Birding Center, Iwo Jima Monument, Harlingen Arts and Heritage Museum, historic Jackson Street, Gladys Porter Zoo, Rio Grande Valley Premium Outlets, Harlingen Performing Arts Theatre, Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, the beach on South Padre Island

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Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2025.