Rents are right about where East Los Angeles's 10-year trend predicts.
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 $2,125 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
Rent in East Los Angeles is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in February 2022.
Rent in East Los Angeles changed +7.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
Rent rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($68,741) is $1,719 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a studio ($1,600); a 1-bedroom is $1,810.
Maywood, 3 miles away, rents for 23% less ($1,635/mo), about $5,900 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for East Los Angeles. 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
East Los Angeles, CA is majority renter-occupied, 11.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How East Los Angeles, CA has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in East Los Angeles, CA paid around $1,641 a month. That figure now sits near $2,125, up 29.5% from the 2022 baseline. Census figures show median household income at $68,741 today, compared with $54,629 five years earlier. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show East Los Angeles, CA losing about 7,317 residents over the five-year window, down 6.2% on net. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2022.
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Can you afford rent in East Los Angeles on your salary?
At $2,125/mo, how East Los Angeles rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
East Los Angeles rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in East Los Angeles. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in East Los Angeles
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in East Los Angeles is $2,125/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,600/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,290/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,810/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,940/mo.
At 37% of local median household income ($68,741/yr), East Los Angeles ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in East Los Angeles?
Is rent going up or down in East Los Angeles?
Which East Los Angeles neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does East Los Angeles rent compare to other cities in California?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than East Los Angeles?
At $2,125/mo, rent takes ~37% of East Los Angeles's median household income ($68,741/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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