Rents are 5% above what Aptos's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $4,226 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 →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Aptos is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in April 2023.
Rent in Aptos changed +10.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($134,048) is $3,351 a month. That is less than HUD's Fair Market Rent for a studio ($3,420).
Soquel, 4 miles away, rents for 33% less ($2,850/mo), about $16,500 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Aptos. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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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.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Aptos, CA has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in Aptos, CA has shifted from $3,393 to $4,226, up 24.6% since 2023. On the earnings side, the typical household in Aptos, CA now reports about $134,048, up from $116,583 in 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. 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.
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At $4,226/mo, how Aptos rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Aptos rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Aptos. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Aptos
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Aptos is $4,226/mo as of October 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 38% of local median household income ($134,048/yr), Aptos ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 10.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Aptos?
Is rent going up or down in Aptos?
How does Aptos rent compare to other cities in California?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Aptos?
At $4,226/mo, rent takes ~38% of Aptos's median household income ($134,048/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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