How much does it cost to rent in Arroyo Grande, CA?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Arroyo Grande, CA is $3,048. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Arroyo Grande cheaper than other California cities?

Arroyo Grande falls in the middle range for California, ranking #139 out of 387 cities at $3,048/mo.

When was Arroyo Grande rent data last updated?

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

Is Arroyo Grande a renter's market or a landlord's market?

Based on RentDataNow's Rent Market Meter, Arroyo Grande is currently a renter's market. Rents are softening (down 0.0% 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.

City Report · CA

Arroyo Grande

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

Pop. 18,372·139th most expensive in California·One of the pricier rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$3,048/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

-2.8%

vs US Median

+$1,083

Falling (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss Arroyo Grande rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

Arroyo Grande · $3,048

More expensive than 91% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Affordability

36% of income

MODERATE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $3,048/mo, rent takes about 36% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$122,000/yr

Local median income

$102,553/yr

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,800

1 BR

$2,000

2 BR

$2,630

3 BR

$3,510

4 BR+

$3,980

Research median

$2,630/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

$36,576/yr

At $3,048/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Renter's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are softening (down 0.0% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, -2.8% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Arroyo Grande, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 45.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

18,372

Median income

$102,553

Median age

45.8

Renters

39.4%

Age distribution

20.3%

18.5%

20.1%

13.7%

27.4%

Under 1820.3%

18–3418.5%

35–5420.1%

55–6413.7%

65+27.4%

Gender

44.2%

55.8%

Male44.2%

Female55.8%

Race & ethnicity

71.2%

21%

White71.2%

Hispanic21%

Asian3.8%

Other3.8%

Education (25+)

14.8%

35.2%

45.3%

No HS diploma4.8%

HS diploma14.8%

Some college35.2%

Bachelor's+45.3%

Housing tenure

60.6%

39.4%

Owner60.6%

Renter39.4%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Arroyo Grande, CA has changed in 5 years

Income

$90,405 → $102,553

up 13.4%

Population

18,422 → 18,372

down 0.3%

Renter share

34.8% → 39.4%

+4.6 pts

Bachelor's+

37.1% → 45.3%

+8.2 pts

Median age

46.7 → 45.8

-0.9 yrs

Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $90,405 in 2021 to $102,553 more recently. The renter share has risen from 34.8% to 39.4%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 37.1% to 45.3% across the same window.

Community

Discussions about Arroyo Grande

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

View Arroyo Grande rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Arroyo Grande on your salary?

At $3,048/mo, how Arroyo Grande rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 32.8% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 46.2% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 40.1% income

rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 22.4% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 17.6% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 49.3% income

rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 54.7% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 44.3% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Arroyo Grande rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Arroyo Grande

About renting in Arroyo Grande, CA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Arroyo Grande is $3,048/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,800/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,630/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,000/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,510/mo.

At 36% of local median household income ($102,553/yr), Arroyo Grande ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Arroyo Grande an affordable city for renters?

Arroyo Grande is considered moderate for renters. At $3,048/mo, rent takes approximately 36% of the local median household income ($102,553/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Arroyo Grande slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Arroyo Grande?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $122,000/year (~$59/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,048/mo in Arroyo Grande. The local median household income is $102,553/yr, meaning the typical Arroyo Grande household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Arroyo Grande?

Rent in Arroyo Grande has been relatively stable over the past year, with a 0.0% change year over year as of July 2026.

How does Arroyo Grande rent compare to other cities in California?

Arroyo Grande is middle-of-the-pack for California for rent, ranking #139 out of 387 tracked cities at $3,048/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Arroyo Grande?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Arroyo Grande ($3,048/mo): Santa Maria ($2,520/mo), Grover Beach ($2,701/mo), San Luis Obispo ($2,966/mo).

What percentage of Arroyo Grande residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 39.4% of Arroyo Grande households are renters, while 60.6% are owner-occupied. Arroyo Grande leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Arroyo Grande rent compare to the national average?

Arroyo Grande's median rent of $3,048/mo is $1,083 (55%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within California, it ranks #139 out of 387 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

36%

MODERATE

At $3,048/mo, rent takes ~36% of Arroyo Grande's median household income ($102,553/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Arroyo Grande 36%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the Arroyo Grande affordability calculator →

Nearby cities