78702 Rents Are High Across the Board

East Austin Apartments (78702) All newer construction, MetroRail access, train noise on some blocks, and a management quality gap wider than the price gap. Market rate 1-bedrooms from around $1,200.

I’ve toured most apartment communities in 78702, some of them more than once. This ZIP changes fast. Communities switch management companies, rotate specials, and quietly change what they screen for without much warning.

Every community below has a full review. Each one covers what listing sites leave out: actual screening criteria, real fee breakdowns, net effective rent math, and honest resident feedback.

A few things worth knowing about 78702 before you dig in.

Almost nothing here is old. Two communities were built before 2014. The rest went up between 2014 and 2022. If you’re looking at market rate 1-bedrooms, most run $1,300 to $1,600. Sentral East Austin starts around $1,200, and Lenox 7th and AMLI Eastside push past $1,700. Talavera Lofts and Chalmers Courts South are income-restricted (rents are lower, but you have to meet income limits).

Plaza Saltillo has the train. The MetroRail station gets you downtown. H-E-B on East 7th at Pleasant Valley is walking distance from most communities on the west side. But if you’re near the tracks, you’re hearing trains. MetroRail and freight.

East Cesar Chavez and East 6th are the draw. Suerte, Nixta Taqueria, Franklin BBQ on East 11th, and a bar scene on East 6th that runs hard Thursday through Saturday. And downtown is right across I-35.

Parking is tight at most communities. Covered spots cost extra at almost every property, and street parking fills up fast on weekends. If you have two cars, ask about parking before you tour.

Management quality is all over the map. Some buildings here are run well. Others have reviews full of maintenance complaints and front office turnover. That’s the biggest variable from one community to the next, and it’s the main reason I break it down property by property below.

Pick a community below to read the full review, or get in touch if you want me to narrow it down based on your budget, timeline, and screening situation.