How much does it cost to rent in El Cajon, CA?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in El Cajon, CA is $2,277. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is El Cajon cheaper than other California cities?

El Cajon is among the more affordable cities in California, ranking #305 out of 387 cities at $2,277/mo.

When was El Cajon rent data last updated?

El Cajon rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

Is El Cajon a renter's market or a landlord's market?

Based on RentDataNow's Rent Market Meter, El Cajon is currently a renter's market. Rents are softening (down 1.8% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage. The meter is derived from rent-price momentum (year-over-year and month-over-month change), not inventory levels.

City Report · CA

El Cajon

Name: Average Rent Prices in El Cajon, CA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 104,449·305th most expensive in California·Rental market data updated monthly for El Cajon, CA

Median rent (all units)

$2,277/mo

Year-over-Year

-1.8%

Month-over-Month

-1.3%

vs US Median

+$312

Falling (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss El Cajon rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

El Cajon · $2,277

More expensive than 72% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

74/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 12% below what El Cajon's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$2,277/mo

Expected by trend

$2,584/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,923

1 BR

$2,087

2 BR

$2,580

3 BR

$3,450

4 BR+

$4,200

Research median

$2,580/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$27,324/yr

At $2,277/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Renter's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are softening (down 1.8% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage.

Based on rent-price momentum (-1.8% YoY, -1.3% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

El Cajon, CA is majority renter-occupied, has a large share of families with children, 23% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

104,449

Median income

$67,511

Median age

36.1

Renters

58.5%

Age distribution

25.6%

22.5%

25.7%

14.5%

Under 1825.6%

18–3422.5%

35–5425.7%

55–6411.8%

65+14.5%

Gender

49.5%

50.5%

Male49.5%

Female50.5%

Race & ethnicity

56.4%

29%

White56.4%

Black6.5%

Hispanic29%

Asian5.5%

Other2.7%

Education (25+)

15.6%

29.5%

31.9%

23%

No HS diploma15.6%

HS diploma29.5%

Some college31.9%

Bachelor's+23%

Housing tenure

41.5%

58.5%

Owner41.5%

Renter58.5%

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

2021 vs 2026

How El Cajon, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,744 → $2,277

up 30.6%

Income

$58,193 → $67,511

up 16.0%

Population

106,043 → 104,449

down 1.5%

Renter share

58.5% → 58.5%

+0.0 pts

Bachelor's+

23.5% → 23%

-0.5 pts

Median age

34.8 → 36.1

+1.3 yrs

Since 2021, the typical rent in El Cajon, CA has climbed from $1,744 to $2,277, a 30.6% change over five years. Household income in the area moved from $58,193 to $67,511 across the same window, up 16.0% versus 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 1.5% since 2021, moving from about 106,043 residents to roughly 104,449. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in El Cajon, CA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

Discussions about El Cajon

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View El Cajon rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in El Cajon on your salary?

At $2,277/mo, how El Cajon rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 24.5% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 34.5% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 30% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 16.8% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 13.1% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 36.9% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 40.8% income

rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 33.1% income

stretched

By apartment size

El Cajon rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in El Cajon

About renting in El Cajon, CA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in El Cajon is $2,277/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,923/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,580/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,087/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,450/mo.

At 40% of local median household income ($67,511/yr), El Cajon ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 1.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is El Cajon an affordable city for renters?

El Cajon is considered moderate for renters. At $2,277/mo, rent takes approximately 40% of the local median household income ($67,511/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. El Cajon slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in El Cajon?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $91,000/year (~$44/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,277/mo in El Cajon. The local median household income is $67,511/yr, meaning the typical El Cajon household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in El Cajon?

Rent in El Cajon has decreased 1.8% over the past year as of July 2026, offering some relief compared to 12 months ago.

Which El Cajon neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in El Cajon are 92021 ($2,151/mo), 92020 ($2,174/mo), and 92019 ($2,672/mo). Citywide, the median rent in El Cajon is $2,277/mo.

How does El Cajon rent compare to other cities in California?

El Cajon is one of the more affordable cities in California for rent, ranking #305 out of 387 tracked cities at $2,277/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than El Cajon?

Lakeside is nearby and more affordable at $2,203/mo, which is $74 less than El Cajon.

What percentage of El Cajon residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 58.5% of El Cajon households are renters, while 41.5% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, El Cajon has a strong rental market.

How does El Cajon rent compare to the national average?

El Cajon's median rent of $2,277/mo is $312 (16%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within California, it ranks #305 out of 387 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

40%

MODERATE

At $2,277/mo, rent takes ~40% of El Cajon's median household income ($67,511/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

El Cajon 40%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the El Cajon affordability calculator →

Nearby cities