How much does it cost to rent in Oceanside, CA?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Oceanside, CA is $2,974. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Oceanside cheaper than other California cities?

Oceanside falls in the middle range for California, ranking #156 out of 387 cities at $2,974/mo.

When was Oceanside rent data last updated?

Oceanside 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

Oceanside

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

Pop. 172,242·156th most expensive in California·One of the pricier rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$2,974/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.2%

Month-over-Month

+1.5%

vs US Median

+$1,009

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Oceanside · $2,974

More expensive than 90% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

61/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 6% below what Oceanside's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$2,974/mo

Expected by trend

$3,152/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,200

1 BR

$2,388

2 BR

$2,953

3 BR

$3,945

4 BR+

$4,805

Research median

$2,953/mo

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

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$35,688/yr

At $2,974/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 3.2% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.2% YoY, +1.5% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Oceanside, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 36.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

172,242

Median income

$97,737

Median age

38.9

Renters

41.7%

Age distribution

20.2%

24.4%

25.3%

13.1%

17%

Under 1820.2%

18–3424.4%

35–5425.3%

55–6413.1%

65+17%

Gender

50.4%

49.6%

Male50.4%

Female49.6%

Race & ethnicity

47.4%

37.5%

White47.4%

Black4.6%

Hispanic37.5%

Asian8.4%

Other2.1%

Education (25+)

13.3%

19.2%

31.3%

36.2%

No HS diploma13.3%

HS diploma19.2%

Some college31.3%

Bachelor's+36.2%

Housing tenure

58.3%

41.7%

Owner58.3%

Renter41.7%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Oceanside, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,157 → $2,974

up 37.9%

Income

$80,837 → $97,737

up 20.9%

Population

174,461 → 172,242

down 1.3%

Renter share

42.7% → 41.7%

-1.0 pts

Bachelor's+

32.9% → 36.2%

+3.3 pts

Median age

37.1 → 38.9

+1.8 yrs

Rent in Oceanside, CA has increased 37.9% since 2021, going from about $2,157 per month to roughly $2,974 today. Median household income grew from $80,837 to $97,737 between 2021 and 2024, a 20.9% shift. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 17.0 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 174,461 to 172,242 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.3% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 32.9% to 36.2%. Taken together, the five-year picture in Oceanside, CA reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

Community

Discussions about Oceanside

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View Oceanside rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Oceanside on your salary?

At $2,974/mo, how Oceanside rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 32% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 45.1% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 39.1% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 21.9% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 17.1% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 48.2% income

rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 53.3% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 43.3% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Oceanside rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Oceanside

About renting in Oceanside, CA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Oceanside is $2,974/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,200/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,953/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,388/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,945/mo.

At 37% of local median household income ($97,737/yr), Oceanside ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.2% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Oceanside an affordable city for renters?

Oceanside is considered moderate for renters. At $2,974/mo, rent takes approximately 37% of the local median household income ($97,737/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Oceanside slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Oceanside?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $119,000/year (~$57/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,974/mo in Oceanside. The local median household income is $97,737/yr, meaning the typical Oceanside household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Oceanside?

Rent in Oceanside has increased 3.2% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Oceanside neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Oceanside are 92058 ($2,892/mo), 92056 ($2,914/mo), and 92054 ($2,958/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Oceanside is $2,974/mo.

How does Oceanside rent compare to other cities in California?

Oceanside is middle-of-the-pack for California for rent, ranking #156 out of 387 tracked cities at $2,974/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Oceanside?

Vista is nearby and more affordable at $2,682/mo, which is $292 less than Oceanside.

What percentage of Oceanside residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 41.7% of Oceanside households are renters, while 58.3% are owner-occupied. Oceanside leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Oceanside rent compare to the national average?

Oceanside's median rent of $2,974/mo is $1,009 (51%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within California, it ranks #156 out of 387 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

37%

MODERATE

At $2,974/mo, rent takes ~37% of Oceanside's median household income ($97,737/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Oceanside 37%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the Oceanside affordability calculator →

Nearby cities