Rents are 3% above what El Cerrito's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.
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 $2,551 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 El Cerrito usually run 0.9% below trend in February and 1.1% above it in May, about $51 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.
Rent in El Cerrito is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in March 2021.
Rent in El Cerrito changed +6.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
Rent has risen 9 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($108,882) is $2,722 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,640); a 3-bedroom is $3,380.
Vallejo, 15 miles away, rents for 14% less ($2,200/mo), about $4,200 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for El Cerrito. 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.
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Who lives here
El Cerrito, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 21.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How El Cerrito, CA has changed in 5 years
The median rent in El Cerrito, CA stood at $2,138 in 2021 and currently runs about $2,551, reflecting a 19.3% increase over the period. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $110,469 in 2021 to $108,882 more recently. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 4.6% since 2021, moving from about 5,093 residents to roughly 5,325. Renters now make up 18.3% of households, compared with 14.6% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 21.6% of adults here, versus 17.8% in 2021. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the El Cerrito, CA market of 2021.
Discussions about El Cerrito
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Can you afford rent in El Cerrito on your salary?
At $2,551/mo, how El Cerrito rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
El Cerrito rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in El Cerrito. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in El Cerrito
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in El Cerrito is $2,551/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,910/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,640/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,170/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,380/mo.
At 28% of local median household income ($108,882/yr), El Cerrito ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does El Cerrito rent compare to other cities in California?
At $2,551/mo, rent takes ~28% of El Cerrito's median household income ($108,882/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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