Rents are 13% below what Carmichael's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
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 $1,757 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
February. Asking rents in Carmichael usually run 0.9% below trend in February and 1% above it in September, about $33 a month apart at today's median. Based on 10 years of data.
Rent in Carmichael is 0.7% below its high of $1,769 in March 2026, at $1,757 as of September 2026.
Rent in Carmichael changed +0.9% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Carmichael rose 36% while median household income rose 32.8% ($64,710 to $85,914). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Carmichael is 34.7% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent rose in 5 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($85,914) is $2,148 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,050); a 3-bedroom is $2,780.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Carmichael. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. 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
Carmichael, CA is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large retiree population, 36.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Carmichael, CA has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Carmichael, CA stood at $1,448 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,757, reflecting a 21.3% increase over the period. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $74,184 in 2021 to $85,914 more recently. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 36.7% of adults here, versus 34.2% in 2021. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Carmichael, CA market of 2021.
Discussions about Carmichael
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Can you afford rent in Carmichael on your salary?
At $1,757/mo, how Carmichael rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Carmichael rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Carmichael. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Carmichael
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Carmichael is $1,757/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,560/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,050/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,650/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,780/mo.
At 25% of local median household income ($85,914/yr), Carmichael ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.9% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in Carmichael?
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Has rent outpaced income in Carmichael?
How does Carmichael rent compare to other cities in California?
At $1,757/mo, rent takes ~25% of Carmichael's median household income ($85,914/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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