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

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Aptos, CA is $3,924. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Aptos cheaper than other California cities?

Aptos is one of the pricier cities in California, ranking #47 out of 381 cities tracked at $3,924/mo.

When was Aptos rent data last updated?

Aptos rent data reflects August 2026 and was last refreshed on August 17, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

Is Aptos a renter's market or a landlord's market?

Based on RentDataNow's Rent Market Meter, Aptos is currently a renter's market. Rents are softening (up only 4.2% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage. The meter is derived from rent-price momentum (year-over-year and month-over-month change), not inventory levels.

What is the Fair Market Rent in Aptos, CA?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Aptos, CA at $4,720 per month, which is 20% above the $3,924 market median. Fair Market Rent is the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) payment standard. It is a 40th-percentile gross rent that includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash, and HUD updates it once a year, so it measures something different from current market asking rent.

City Report · CA

Aptos

Name: Average Rent Prices in Aptos, CA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Pop. 6,404·47th most expensive in California·Rents have been falling, good time to negotiate

Median rent (all units)

$3,924/mo

Year-over-Year

+4.2%

Month-over-Month

-3.2%

vs US Median

+$1,962

Falling (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss Aptos rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

Aptos · $3,924

More expensive than 97% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Affordability

35% of income

MODERATE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $3,924/mo, rent takes about 35% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$157,000/yr

Local median income

$134,048/yr

Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Aptos's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$3,420

1 BR

$3,600

2 BR

$4,720

3 BR

$5,870

4 BR+

$6,270

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$4,720/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $3,924 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost

$47,088/yr

At $3,924/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Renter's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are softening (up only 4.2% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage.

Based on rent-price momentum (+4.2% YoY, -3.2% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Aptos, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 49.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

6,404

Median income

$134,048

Median age

45.7

Renters

28.9%

Age distribution

14%

26.6%

19.2%

15.1%

25.2%

Under 1814%

18–3426.6%

35–5419.2%

55–6415.1%

65+25.2%

Gender

47.9%

52.1%

Male47.9%

Female52.1%

Race & ethnicity

80.2%

15.8%

White80.2%

Hispanic15.8%

Asian2.2%

Other1.6%

Education (25+)

14.3%

33.8%

49.5%

No HS diploma2.4%

HS diploma14.3%

Some college33.8%

Bachelor's+49.5%

Housing tenure

71.1%

28.9%

Owner71.1%

Renter28.9%

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

2023 vs 2026

How Aptos, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$3,755 → $3,924

up 4.5%

Income

$116,583 → $134,048

up 15.0%

Population

6,372 → 6,404

up 0.5%

Renter share

19.8% → 28.9%

+9.1 pts

Bachelor's+

50.5% → 49.5%

-1.0 pts

Median age

53.5 → 45.7

-7.8 yrs

Across the past five years, the going rent in Aptos, CA has shifted from $3,755 to $3,924, up 4.5% since 2023. On the earnings side, the typical household in Aptos, CA now reports about $134,048, up from $116,583 in 2021. With wages climbing faster than rent over the same window, renters here have a bit more breathing room than they did five years back. The renter share has risen from 19.8% to 28.9%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. For context, the 2023 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Aptos, CA reflects that arc in its own way.

Community

Discussions about Aptos

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View Aptos rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Aptos on your salary?

At $3,924/mo, how Aptos rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 42.2% income

rent-burdened

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 59.5% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 51.6% income

severely rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 28.9% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 22.6% income

affordable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 63.5% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 70.4% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 57.1% income

severely rent-burdened

By apartment size

Aptos rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Aptos

About renting in Aptos, CA

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Aptos is $3,924/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $3,420/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $4,720/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $3,600/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $5,870/mo.

At 35% of local median household income ($134,048/yr), Aptos ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.2% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Aptos an affordable city for renters?

Aptos is considered moderate for renters. At $3,924/mo, rent takes approximately 35% of the local median household income ($134,048/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Aptos slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Aptos?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $157,000/year (~$75/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,924/mo in Aptos. The local median household income is $134,048/yr, meaning the typical Aptos household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Aptos?

Rent in Aptos has increased 4.2% over the past year as of August 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Aptos rent compare to other cities in California?

Aptos is one of the pricier cities in California for rent, ranking #47 out of 381 tracked cities at $3,924/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Aptos?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Aptos ($3,924/mo): Watsonville ($3,192/mo), Capitola ($3,318/mo), Santa Cruz ($3,560/mo).

What percentage of Aptos residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 28.9% of Aptos households are renters, while 71.1% are owner-occupied. Aptos leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Aptos rent compare to the national average?

Aptos's median rent of $3,924/mo is $1,962 (100%) above the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within California, it ranks #47 out of 381 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

35%

MODERATE

At $3,924/mo, rent takes ~35% of Aptos's median household income ($134,048/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Aptos 35%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the Aptos affordability calculator →

Nearby cities