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

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Benicia, CA is $2,471. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Benicia cheaper than other California cities?

Benicia is among the more affordable cities in California, ranking #263 out of 381 cities at $2,471/mo.

When was Benicia rent data last updated?

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

What is the Fair Market Rent in Benicia, CA?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Benicia, CA at $2,810 per month, which is 14% above the $2,471 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

Benicia

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

Pop. 26,749·263rd most expensive in California·Benicia rents have dropped 5.7%, currently a renter's market

Median rent (all units)

$2,471/mo

Year-over-Year

-5.7%

Month-over-Month

-0.9%

vs US Median

+$509

Falling (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss Benicia rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

Benicia · $2,471

More expensive than 79% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Rent Reality Score

68/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 9% below what Benicia's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$2,471/mo

Expected by trend

$2,713/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,000

1 BR

$2,200

2 BR

$2,810

3 BR

$3,750

4 BR+

$4,250

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$2,810/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,471 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

$29,652/yr

At $2,471/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Renter's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are down 5.7% year-over-year. Push hard on price, concessions, and lease terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (-5.7% YoY, -0.9% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Benicia, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 47.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

26,749

Median income

$121,204

Median age

44.9

Renters

30.5%

Age distribution

20.5%

17.2%

25.7%

12.9%

23.7%

Under 1820.5%

18–3417.2%

35–5425.7%

55–6412.9%

65+23.7%

Gender

47.5%

52.5%

Male47.5%

Female52.5%

Race & ethnicity

63.1%

15.5%

White63.1%

Black4.3%

Hispanic15.5%

Asian11%

Other6.2%

Education (25+)

15.2%

32.4%

47.6%

No HS diploma4.8%

HS diploma15.2%

Some college32.4%

Bachelor's+47.6%

Housing tenure

69.5%

30.5%

Owner69.5%

Renter30.5%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Benicia, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,095 → $2,471

up 17.9%

Income

$118,433 → $121,204

up 2.3%

Population

27,191 → 26,749

down 1.6%

Renter share

29.5% → 30.5%

+1.0 pts

Bachelor's+

45.2% → 47.6%

+2.4 pts

Rent in Benicia, CA has climbed 17.9% since 2021, going from about $2,095 per month to roughly $2,471 today. Census figures show median household income at $121,204 today, compared with $118,433 five years earlier. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 15.6 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 27,191 to 26,749 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.6% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 45.2% to 47.6%. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.

Community

Discussions about Benicia

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View Benicia rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Benicia on your salary?

At $2,471/mo, how Benicia rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 26.6% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 37.5% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 32.5% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 18.2% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 14.2% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 40% income

rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 44.3% income

rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 35.9% income

stretched

By apartment size

Benicia rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Benicia

About renting in Benicia, CA

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Benicia is $2,471/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,000/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,810/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,200/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,750/mo.

At 24% of local median household income ($121,204/yr), Benicia ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 5.7% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Benicia an affordable city for renters?

Benicia is considered very affordable for renters. At $2,471/mo, rent takes approximately 24% of the local median household income ($121,204/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Benicia falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Benicia?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $99,000/year (~$48/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,471/mo in Benicia. The local median household income is $121,204/yr, meaning the typical Benicia household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Benicia?

Rent in Benicia has decreased 5.7% over the past year as of August 2026, offering some relief compared to 12 months ago.

How does Benicia rent compare to other cities in California?

Benicia is one of the more affordable cities in California for rent, ranking #263 out of 381 tracked cities at $2,471/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Benicia?

Vallejo is nearby and more affordable at $2,184/mo, which is $287 less than Benicia.

What percentage of Benicia residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 30.5% of Benicia households are renters, while 69.5% are owner-occupied. Benicia leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Benicia rent compare to the national average?

Benicia's median rent of $2,471/mo is $509 (26%) above the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within California, it ranks #263 out of 381 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

24%

VERY AFFORDABLE

At $2,471/mo, rent takes ~24% of Benicia's median household income ($121,204/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Benicia 24%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the Benicia affordability calculator →

Nearby cities