Studio Apartment Rent in El Monte, CA
Median asking rent for a studio apartment in El Monte, California as of July 2026. That's +33% lower than the citywide median of $2,381 and +24% above the national studio median of $1,290.
Income needed for a studio in El Monte
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 Monte
Compare El Monte'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 | $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 Monte.
| City | Distance | Studio rent | vs El Monte |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arcadia, CA | 3.9 mi | $1,965 | +$365 (+23%) |
| Rosemead, CA | 3.9 mi | $1,600 | — |
| Baldwin Park, CA | 4.5 mi | $1,600 | — |
| San Gabriel, CA | 4.7 mi | $1,850 | +$250 (+16%) |
| Hacienda Heights, CA | 6.6 mi | $1,840 | +$240 (+15%) |
| San Marino, CA | 6.6 mi | $2,040 | +$440 (+28%) |
| Sierra Madre, CA | 6.6 mi | $2,010 | +$410 (+26%) |
| Duarte, CA | 6.7 mi | $2,030 | +$430 (+27%) |
| Montebello, CA | 7 mi | $1,650 | +$50 (+3%) |
| La Puente, CA | 7.1 mi | $1,650 | +$50 (+3%) |
| Monterey Park, CA | 7.1 mi | $1,625 | +$25 (+2%) |
| Whittier, CA | 7.3 mi | $1,854 | +$254 (+16%) |
Studio rent in El Monte — common questions
How much is a studio apartment in El Monte?
As of July 2026, the median studio apartment rent in El Monte, California is $1,600 per month. This is +33% below the citywide median of $2,381.
What income do you need to afford a studio in El Monte?
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $64,000 ($5,333/month gross), which works out to roughly $30.77/hour at a full-time job.
Is El Monte expensive for a studio compared to the rest of the US?
El Monte's studio median of $1,600 is +24% above the national studio median of $1,290. It ranks in the 71th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does El Monte rank for studio rent in California?
Among the 383 cities in California with studio data, El Monte ranks #79 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper studio options near El Monte?
Most nearby cities have similar or higher studio rents than El Monte.