Rents are 11% below what El Monte's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
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 $2,316 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: August 17, 2026
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Who lives here
El Monte, CA is majority renter-occupied, 15.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How El Monte, CA has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2023, rent in El Monte, CA has climbed by $113 per month, settling near $2,316 after starting the period at $2,203. Household income in the area moved from $56,524 to $68,030 across the same window, up 20.4% versus 2021. Income growth outran rent by about 15.3 percentage points, easing the affordability math somewhat compared with 2021. Headcount in the area went from 110,144 to 106,109 between 2021 and 2024, a 3.7% change. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in El Monte, CA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
Discussions about El Monte
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Can you afford rent in El Monte on your salary?
At $2,316/mo, how El Monte rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
El Monte rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in El Monte. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in El Monte
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in El Monte is $2,316/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,600/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,290/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,810/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,940/mo.
At 41% of local median household income ($68,030/yr), El Monte ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 5.5% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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What percentage of El Monte residents rent vs. own?
How does El Monte rent compare to the national average?
At $2,316/mo, rent takes ~41% of El Monte's median household income ($68,030/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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