How much does it cost to rent in Huntington Beach, CA?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Huntington Beach, CA is $3,078. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Huntington Beach cheaper than other California cities?

Huntington Beach falls in the middle range for California, ranking #137 out of 387 cities at $3,078/mo.

When was Huntington Beach rent data last updated?

Huntington Beach rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · CA

Huntington Beach

Name: Average Rent Prices in Huntington Beach, CA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 195,240·137th most expensive in California·One of the pricier rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$3,078/mo

Year-over-Year

+2.1%

Month-over-Month

+0.7%

vs US Median

+$1,113

Rising (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss Huntington Beach rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

Huntington Beach · $3,078

More expensive than 92% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

55/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 3% below what Huntington Beach's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$3,078/mo

Expected by trend

$3,164/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Huntington Beach's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,373

1 BR

$2,475

2 BR

$2,928

3 BR

$3,960

4 BR+

$4,735

Research median

$2,928/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$36,936/yr

At $3,078/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (2.1% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+2.1% YoY, +0.7% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Huntington Beach, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 49% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

195,240

Median income

$120,919

Median age

Renters

44.6%

Age distribution

17.5%

21.6%

25.8%

15.6%

19.4%

Under 1817.5%

18–3421.6%

35–5425.8%

55–6415.6%

65+19.4%

Gender

49.7%

50.3%

Male49.7%

Female50.3%

Race & ethnicity

62.8%

18.8%

13.1%

White62.8%

Black1.3%

Hispanic18.8%

Asian13.1%

Other3.9%

Education (25+)

16.2%

28.8%

49%

No HS diploma6%

HS diploma16.2%

Some college28.8%

Bachelor's+49%

Housing tenure

55.4%

44.6%

Owner55.4%

Renter44.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Huntington Beach, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,313 → $3,078

up 33.1%

Income

$104,728 → $120,919

up 15.5%

Population

198,735 → 195,240

down 1.8%

Renter share

44.2% → 44.6%

+0.4 pts

Bachelor's+

45.2% → 49%

+3.8 pts

Median age

43.1 → 44

+0.9 yrs

Rent in Huntington Beach, CA has increased 33.1% since 2021, going from about $2,313 per month to roughly $3,078 today. Census figures show median household income at $120,919 today, compared with $104,728 five years earlier. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 17.6 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 198,735 to 195,240 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.8% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 45.2% to 49%. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.

Community

Discussions about Huntington Beach

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

View Huntington Beach rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Huntington Beach on your salary?

At $3,078/mo, how Huntington Beach rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 33.1% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 46.7% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 40.5% income

rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 22.7% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 17.7% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 49.8% income

rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 55.2% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 44.8% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Huntington Beach rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Huntington Beach. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Huntington Beach

About renting in Huntington Beach, CA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Huntington Beach is $3,078/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,373/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,928/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,475/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,960/mo.

At 31% of local median household income ($120,919/yr), Huntington Beach ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.1% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Huntington Beach an affordable city for renters?

Huntington Beach is considered moderate for renters. At $3,078/mo, rent takes approximately 31% of the local median household income ($120,919/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Huntington Beach slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Huntington Beach?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $123,000/year (~$59/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,078/mo in Huntington Beach. The local median household income is $120,919/yr, meaning the typical Huntington Beach household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Huntington Beach?

Rent in Huntington Beach has increased 2.1% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Huntington Beach neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Huntington Beach are 92647 ($2,840/mo), 92649 ($2,928/mo), and 92646 ($3,280/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Huntington Beach is $3,078/mo.

How does Huntington Beach rent compare to other cities in California?

Huntington Beach is middle-of-the-pack for California for rent, ranking #137 out of 387 tracked cities at $3,078/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Huntington Beach?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Huntington Beach ($3,078/mo): Westminster ($2,629/mo), Garden Grove ($2,679/mo), Fountain Valley ($2,698/mo).

What percentage of Huntington Beach residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 44.6% of Huntington Beach households are renters, while 55.4% are owner-occupied. Huntington Beach leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Huntington Beach rent compare to the national average?

Huntington Beach's median rent of $3,078/mo is $1,113 (57%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within California, it ranks #137 out of 387 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

31%

MODERATE

At $3,078/mo, rent takes ~31% of Huntington Beach's median household income ($120,919/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Huntington Beach 31%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the Huntington Beach affordability calculator →

Nearby cities