Rents are 3% below what Costa Mesa'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 $3,121 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 Costa Mesa usually run 0.4% below trend in February and 0.5% above it in August, about $28 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Costa Mesa is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Costa Mesa changed +3.4% 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 Costa Mesa rose 33% while median household income rose 32.5% ($84,138 to $111,505). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Costa Mesa is 40.6% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($111,505) is $2,788 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($2,510); a 2-bedroom is $2,970.
Garden Grove, 8 miles away, rents for 13% less ($2,703/mo), about $5,000 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Costa Mesa. 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.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Costa Mesa, CA is majority renter-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 45% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Costa Mesa, CA has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in Costa Mesa, CA has climbed from $2,297 to $3,121, a 35.9% change over five years. Census figures show median household income at $111,505 today, compared with $96,391 five years earlier. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 1.6% since 2021, moving from about 112,148 residents to roughly 110,330. College-educated residents now make up 45% of adults here, versus 42.2% in 2021. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
Discussions about Costa Mesa
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Costa Mesa on your salary?
At $3,121/mo, how Costa Mesa rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Costa Mesa rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Costa Mesa. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Costa Mesa
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Costa Mesa is $3,121/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,410/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,970/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,510/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $4,015/mo.
At 34% of local median household income ($111,505/yr), Costa Mesa ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Costa Mesa?
Is rent going up or down in Costa Mesa?
When is the cheapest time to rent in Costa Mesa?
Has rent outpaced income in Costa Mesa?
Which Costa Mesa neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Costa Mesa rent compare to other cities in California?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Costa Mesa?
At $3,121/mo, rent takes ~34% of Costa Mesa's median household income ($111,505/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Costa Mesa.
No discussions yet.