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

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in El Centro, CA is $1,719. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is El Centro cheaper than other California cities?

El Centro is among the more affordable cities in California, ranking #370 out of 387 cities at $1,719/mo.

When was El Centro rent data last updated?

El Centro 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 Centro a renter's market or a landlord's market?

Based on RentDataNow's Rent Market Meter, El Centro is currently a renter's market. Rents are softening (down 0.0% 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 Centro

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

Pop. 44,240·370th most expensive in California·Rental market data updated monthly for El Centro, CA

Median rent (all units)

$1,719/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

-1.3%

vs US Median

-$246

Falling (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss El Centro rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

El Centro · $1,719

More affordable than 60% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Affordability

39% of income

MODERATE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,719/mo, rent takes about 39% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$69,000/yr

Local median income

$53,082/yr

Based on the 30%-of-income rule using El Centro's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$910

1 BR

$1,020

2 BR

$1,330

3 BR

$1,820

4 BR+

$2,220

Research median

$1,330/mo

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

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$20,628/yr

At $1,719/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Renter's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are softening (down 0.0% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, -1.3% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

El Centro, CA is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 14.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

44,240

Median income

$53,082

Median age

Renters

50.5%

Age distribution

30.3%

25.2%

21%

14%

Under 1830.3%

18–3425.2%

35–5421%

55–649.5%

65+14%

Gender

49.5%

50.5%

Male49.5%

Female50.5%

Race & ethnicity

19.9%

86.7%

White19.9%

Black3.3%

Hispanic86.7%

Asian1.2%

Education (25+)

26.7%

27.1%

31.3%

14.9%

No HS diploma26.7%

HS diploma27.1%

Some college31.3%

Bachelor's+14.9%

Housing tenure

49.5%

50.5%

Owner49.5%

Renter50.5%

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

2021 vs 2026

How El Centro, CA has changed in 5 years

Income

$49,244 → $53,082

up 7.8%

Population

44,322 → 44,240

down 0.2%

Renter share

51.3% → 50.5%

-0.8 pts

Bachelor's+

16.1% → 14.9%

-1.2 pts

Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $49,244 in 2021 to $53,082 more recently.

Community

Discussions about El Centro

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

View El Centro rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in El Centro on your salary?

At $1,719/mo, how El Centro rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 18.5% income

very comfortable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 26.1% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 22.6% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 12.7% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 9.9% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 27.8% income

affordable

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 30.8% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 25% income

affordable

By apartment size

El Centro rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in El Centro

About renting in El Centro, CA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in El Centro is $1,719/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $910/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,330/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,020/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,820/mo.

At 39% of local median household income ($53,082/yr), El Centro ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is El Centro an affordable city for renters?

El Centro is considered moderate for renters. At $1,719/mo, rent takes approximately 39% of the local median household income ($53,082/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. El Centro slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

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

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $69,000/year (~$33/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,719/mo in El Centro. The local median household income is $53,082/yr, meaning the typical El Centro household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in El Centro?

Rent in El Centro has been relatively stable over the past year, with a 0.0% change year over year as of July 2026.

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

El Centro is one of the more affordable cities in California for rent, ranking #370 out of 387 tracked cities at $1,719/mo.

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

Yuma is nearby and more affordable at $1,473/mo, which is $246 less than El Centro.

What percentage of El Centro residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 50.5% of El Centro households are renters, while 49.5% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, El Centro has a strong rental market.

How does El Centro rent compare to the national average?

El Centro's median rent of $1,719/mo is $246 (13%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within California, it ranks #370 out of 387 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

39%

MODERATE

At $1,719/mo, rent takes ~39% of El Centro's median household income ($53,082/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

El Centro 39%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the El Centro affordability calculator →

Nearby cities