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

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Cerritos, CA is $3,488. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Cerritos cheaper than other California cities?

Cerritos is one of the pricier cities in California, ranking #83 out of 381 cities tracked at $3,488/mo.

When was Cerritos rent data last updated?

Cerritos 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 Cerritos, CA?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Cerritos, CA at $3,940 per month, which is 13% above the $3,488 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

Cerritos

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

Pop. 47,867·83rd most expensive in California·One of the pricier rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$3,488/mo

Year-over-Year

-0.3%

Month-over-Month

-3.1%

vs US Median

+$1,526

Falling (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss Cerritos rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

Cerritos · $3,488

More expensive than 95% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Rent Reality Score

67/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

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

Actual rent

$3,488/mo

Expected by trend

$3,812/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,790

1 BR

$3,120

2 BR

$3,940

3 BR

$5,010

4 BR+

$5,550

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$3,940/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $3,488 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

$41,856/yr

At $3,488/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Renter's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are down 0.3% year-over-year. Push hard on price, concessions, and lease terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (-0.3% YoY, -3.1% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Cerritos, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 58% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

47,867

Median income

$135,439

Median age

47.7

Renters

24.1%

Age distribution

19.1%

16.6%

24.7%

13.1%

26.5%

Under 1819.1%

18–3416.6%

35–5424.7%

55–6413.1%

65+26.5%

Gender

50.3%

49.7%

Male50.3%

Female49.7%

Race & ethnicity

13.4%

16%

62.2%

White13.4%

Black6.1%

Hispanic16%

Asian62.2%

Other2.3%

Education (25+)

13.4%

22.7%

58%

No HS diploma5.9%

HS diploma13.4%

Some college22.7%

Bachelor's+58%

Housing tenure

75.9%

24.1%

Owner75.9%

Renter24.1%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Cerritos, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,708 → $3,488

up 28.8%

Income

$115,600 → $135,439

up 17.2%

Population

49,630 → 47,867

down 3.6%

Renter share

23.7% → 24.1%

+0.4 pts

Bachelor's+

54% → 58%

+4.0 pts

Median age

45.6 → 47.7

+2.1 yrs

Across the past five years, the going rent in Cerritos, CA has shifted from $2,708 to $3,488, up 28.8% since 2021. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $115,600 in 2021 to $135,439 more recently. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Cerritos, CA losing about 1,763 residents over the five-year window, down 3.6% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 54% to 58% across the same window. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Cerritos, CA market of 2021.

Community

Discussions about Cerritos

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View Cerritos rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Cerritos on your salary?

At $3,488/mo, how Cerritos rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 37.5% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 52.9% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 45.9% income

rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 25.7% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 20.1% income

affordable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 56.5% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 62.5% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 50.7% income

severely rent-burdened

By apartment size

Cerritos rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Cerritos

About renting in Cerritos, CA

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Cerritos is $3,488/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,790/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,940/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $3,120/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $5,010/mo.

At 31% of local median household income ($135,439/yr), Cerritos ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 0.3% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Cerritos an affordable city for renters?

Cerritos is considered moderate for renters. At $3,488/mo, rent takes approximately 31% of the local median household income ($135,439/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Cerritos slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Cerritos?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $140,000/year (~$67/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,488/mo in Cerritos. The local median household income is $135,439/yr, meaning the typical Cerritos household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Cerritos?

Rent in Cerritos has been relatively stable over the past year, with a 0.3% change year over year as of August 2026.

How does Cerritos rent compare to other cities in California?

Cerritos is one of the pricier cities in California for rent, ranking #83 out of 381 tracked cities at $3,488/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Cerritos?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Cerritos ($3,488/mo): Bellflower ($2,372/mo), Buena Park ($2,641/mo), Norwalk ($2,753/mo).

What percentage of Cerritos residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 24.1% of Cerritos households are renters, while 75.9% are owner-occupied. Cerritos leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Cerritos rent compare to the national average?

Cerritos's median rent of $3,488/mo is $1,526 (78%) above the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within California, it ranks #83 out of 381 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

31%

MODERATE

At $3,488/mo, rent takes ~31% of Cerritos's median household income ($135,439/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Cerritos 31%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the Cerritos affordability calculator →

Nearby cities