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

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in El Cerrito, CA is $2,777. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is El Cerrito cheaper than other California cities?

El Cerrito falls in the middle range for California, ranking #194 out of 387 cities at $2,777/mo.

When was El Cerrito rent data last updated?

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

City Report · CA

El Cerrito

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

Pop. 5,325·194th most expensive in California·El Cerrito rents are up 14.1% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$2,777/mo

Year-over-Year

+14.1%

Month-over-Month

+4.1%

vs US Median

+$812

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

El Cerrito · $2,777

More expensive than 86% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Affordability

31% of income

MODERATE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $2,777/mo, rent takes about 31% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$111,000/yr

Local median income

$108,882/yr

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,910

1 BR

$2,170

2 BR

$2,640

3 BR

$3,380

4 BR+

$4,010

Research median

$2,640/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

$33,324/yr

At $2,777/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 14.1% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+14.1% YoY, +4.1% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

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.

Population

5,325

Median income

$108,882

Median age

35.7

Renters

18.3%

Age distribution

23.9%

23.7%

26.2%

12.7%

13.6%

Under 1823.9%

18–3423.7%

35–5426.2%

55–6412.7%

65+13.6%

Gender

52.9%

47.1%

Male52.9%

Female47.1%

Race & ethnicity

38.3%

51.9%

White38.3%

Black2.6%

Hispanic51.9%

Asian7.7%

Education (25+)

22.1%

26.4%

29.9%

21.6%

No HS diploma22.1%

HS diploma26.4%

Some college29.9%

Bachelor's+21.6%

Housing tenure

81.7%

18.3%

Owner81.7%

Renter18.3%

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

2021 vs 2026

How El Cerrito, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,248 → $2,777

up 23.5%

Income

$110,469 → $108,882

down 1.4%

Population

5,093 → 5,325

up 4.6%

Renter share

14.6% → 18.3%

+3.7 pts

Bachelor's+

17.8% → 21.6%

+3.8 pts

Median age

37.9 → 35.7

-2.2 yrs

The median rent in El Cerrito, CA stood at $2,248 in 2021 and currently runs about $2,777, reflecting a 23.5% 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.

Community

Discussions about El Cerrito

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View El Cerrito rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in El Cerrito on your salary?

At $2,777/mo, how El Cerrito rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 29.9% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 42.1% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 36.5% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 20.4% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 16% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 45% income

rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 49.8% income

rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 40.4% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

El Cerrito rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in El Cerrito

About renting in El Cerrito, CA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in El Cerrito is $2,777/mo as of July 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 31% of local median household income ($108,882/yr), El Cerrito ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 14.1% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is El Cerrito an affordable city for renters?

El Cerrito is considered moderate for renters. At $2,777/mo, rent takes approximately 31% of the local median household income ($108,882/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. El Cerrito slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

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

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $111,000/year (~$53/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,777/mo in El Cerrito. The local median household income is $108,882/yr, meaning the typical El Cerrito household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in El Cerrito?

Rent in El Cerrito has increased 14.1% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

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

El Cerrito is middle-of-the-pack for California for rent, ranking #194 out of 387 tracked cities at $2,777/mo.

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

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than El Cerrito ($2,777/mo): San Pablo ($2,255/mo), El Sobrante ($2,440/mo), Richmond ($2,509/mo).

What percentage of El Cerrito residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 18.3% of El Cerrito households are renters, while 81.7% are owner-occupied. El Cerrito leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does El Cerrito rent compare to the national average?

El Cerrito's median rent of $2,777/mo is $812 (41%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within California, it ranks #194 out of 387 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

31%

MODERATE

At $2,777/mo, rent takes ~31% of El Cerrito's median household income ($108,882/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

El Cerrito 31%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the El Cerrito affordability calculator →

Nearby cities