Studio Apartment Rent in El Centro, CA
Median asking rent for a studio apartment in El Centro, California as of July 2026. That's +47% lower than the citywide median of $1,719 and +30% below the national studio median of $1,295.
Income needed for a studio in El Centro
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline (the threshold above which households are considered rent-burdened), here's what you need to earn to comfortably afford a studio at the current median rent.
Rent by apartment size in El Centro
Compare El Centro's median rent across every apartment size.
Cheapest cities for a studio in California
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florin | $738 |
| 2 | Ridgecrest | $838 |
| 3 | Taft | $870 |
| 4 | Lakeport | $890 |
| 5 | El Centro (this page) | $910 |
| 6 | Barstow | $920 |
| 7 | Red Bluff | $930 |
| 8 | California City | $940 |
| 9 | Clearlake | $950 |
| 10 | Paradise | $970 |
| 11 | Eureka | $980 |
| 12 | Oroville | $985 |
| 13 | Florence-Graham | $1,029 |
| 14 | Porterville | $1,050 |
| 15 | Anderson | $1,060 |
Most expensive cities for a studio in California
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Cruz | $3,520 |
| 2 | Scotts Valley | $3,420 |
| 3 | Aptos | $3,420 |
| 4 | Cupertino | $3,410 |
| 5 | Coronado | $3,190 |
| 6 | Ladera Ranch | $3,140 |
| 7 | Los Altos | $3,130 |
| 8 | Foster City | $3,130 |
| 9 | Newport Beach | $3,102 |
| 10 | Capitola | $3,100 |
| 11 | Coto de Caza | $3,070 |
| 12 | Sunnyvale | $3,010 |
| 13 | Santa Barbara | $3,000 |
| 14 | Irvine | $3,000 |
| 15 | Solana Beach | $2,970 |
Nearby cities — studio rent
Most nearby cities have similar or higher studio rents than El Centro.
| City | Distance | Studio rent | vs El Centro |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Quinta, CA | 76.1 mi | $1,880 | +$970 (+107%) |
| Alpine, CA | 76.7 mi | $2,040 | +$1,130 (+124%) |
| Indio, CA | 79.3 mi | $1,715 | +$805 (+88%) |
| Yuma, AZ | 83.3 mi | $1,137 | +$227 (+25%) |
| Palm Desert, CA | 85.3 mi | $1,865 | +$955 (+105%) |
| Ramona, CA | 88.6 mi | $2,070 | +$1,160 (+127%) |
| Rancho Mirage, CA | 89.6 mi | $1,850 | +$940 (+103%) |
| Lakeside, CA | 89.8 mi | $1,860 | +$950 (+104%) |
| El Cajon, CA | 90.3 mi | $1,923 | +$1,013 (+111%) |
| Cathedral City, CA | 93.9 mi | $1,660 | +$750 (+82%) |
| Twentynine Palms, CA | 94.6 mi | $1,370 | +$460 (+51%) |
| Palm Springs, CA | 95.1 mi | $1,785 | +$875 (+96%) |
Studio rent in El Centro — common questions
How much is a studio apartment in El Centro?
As of July 2026, the median studio apartment rent in El Centro, California is $910 per month. This is +47% below the citywide median of $1,719.
What income do you need to afford a studio in El Centro?
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $36,400 ($3,033/month gross), which works out to roughly $17.50/hour at a full-time job.
Is El Centro expensive for a studio compared to the rest of the US?
El Centro's studio median of $910 is +30% below the national studio median of $1,295. It ranks in the 20th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does El Centro rank for studio rent in California?
Among the 383 cities in California with studio data, El Centro ranks #5 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper studio options near El Centro?
Most nearby cities have similar or higher studio rents than El Centro.