Rents are 3% below what Fontana'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 $3,190 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: September 25, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Fontana is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in October 2021.
Rent in Fontana changed +3.6% over the year to August 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.3%.
Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($102,821) is $2,571 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($2,137); a 2-bedroom is $2,657.
The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Fontana, 92336 ($3,457/mo), costs 32% more than the cheapest, 92335 ($2,625/mo).
Rialto, 5 miles away, rents for 16% less ($2,686/mo), about $6,000 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Fontana. 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
Fontana, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 21.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Fontana, CA has changed in 5 years
Rent in Fontana, CA has climbed 17.7% since 2022, going from about $2,711 per month to roughly $3,190 today. Census figures show median household income at $102,821 today, compared with $83,468 five years earlier. Income growth outran rent by about 5.5 percentage points, easing the affordability math somewhat compared with 2021. Headcount in the area went from 208,087 to 214,169 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.9% change. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2022.
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Can you afford rent in Fontana on your salary?
At $3,190/mo, how Fontana rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Fontana rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Fontana. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Fontana
Last updated: September 25, 2026
The median rent in Fontana is $3,190/mo as of September 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,043/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,657/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,137/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,547/mo.
At 37% of local median household income ($102,821/yr), Fontana ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.6% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in Fontana?
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How does Fontana rent compare to other cities in California?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Fontana?
At $3,190/mo, rent takes ~37% of Fontana's median household income ($102,821/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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