How much does it cost to rent in Foster City, CA?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Foster City, CA is $4,181. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Foster City cheaper than other California cities?

Foster City is one of the pricier cities in California, ranking #37 out of 387 cities tracked at $4,181/mo.

When was Foster City rent data last updated?

Foster City 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

Foster City

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

Pop. 32,792·37th most expensive in California·Foster City rents are up 13.9% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$4,181/mo

Year-over-Year

+13.9%

Month-over-Month

+3.1%

vs US Median

+$2,216

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Foster City · $4,181

More expensive than 98% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

23/100

Overpriced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 14% above what Foster City's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.

Actual rent

$4,181/mo

Expected by trend

$3,682/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Foster City's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$3,130

1 BR

$3,820

2 BR

$4,560

3 BR

$5,690

4 BR+

$6,050

Research median

$4,560/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

$50,172/yr

At $4,181/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 13.9% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+13.9% YoY, +3.1% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Foster City, CA is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income above the national average, 73.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

32,792

Median income

$199,143

Median age

39.5

Renters

49.2%

Age distribution

22.2%

18.7%

30.2%

17.6%

Under 1822.2%

18–3418.7%

35–5430.2%

55–6411.3%

65+17.6%

Gender

47.8%

52.2%

Male47.8%

Female52.2%

Race & ethnicity

30%

54.4%

White30%

Black1.7%

Hispanic7.1%

Asian54.4%

Other6.8%

Education (25+)

15.4%

73.8%

No HS diploma3.8%

HS diploma7%

Some college15.4%

Bachelor's+73.8%

Housing tenure

50.8%

49.2%

Owner50.8%

Renter49.2%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Foster City, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,941 → $4,181

up 42.2%

Income

$173,721 → $199,143

up 14.6%

Population

33,511 → 32,792

down 2.1%

Renter share

45.5% → 49.2%

+3.7 pts

Bachelor's+

70.2% → 73.8%

+3.6 pts

Compared with 2021, rent in Foster City, CA has climbed by $1,240 per month, settling near $4,181 after starting the period at $2,941. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $173,721 in 2021 to $199,143 more recently. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 27.6 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 33,511 to 32,792 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.1% change. About 49.2% of households rent today, against 45.5% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 70.2% to 73.8%. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Foster City, CA market of 2021.

Community

Discussions about Foster City

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View Foster City rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Foster City on your salary?

At $4,181/mo, how Foster City rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 45% income

rent-burdened

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 63.4% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 55% income

severely rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 30.8% income

stretched

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 24.1% income

affordable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 67.7% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 75% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 60.8% income

severely rent-burdened

By apartment size

Foster City rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Foster City. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Foster City

About renting in Foster City, CA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Foster City is $4,181/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $3,130/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $4,560/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $3,820/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $5,690/mo.

At 25% of local median household income ($199,143/yr), Foster City ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 13.9% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Foster City an affordable city for renters?

Foster City is considered affordable for renters. At $4,181/mo, rent takes approximately 25% of the local median household income ($199,143/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Foster City falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Foster City?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $167,000/year (~$80/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $4,181/mo in Foster City. The local median household income is $199,143/yr, meaning the typical Foster City household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Foster City?

Rent in Foster City has increased 13.9% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Foster City rent compare to other cities in California?

Foster City is one of the pricier cities in California for rent, ranking #37 out of 387 tracked cities at $4,181/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Foster City?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Foster City ($4,181/mo): Belmont ($3,346/mo), San Mateo ($3,667/mo), Burlingame ($3,697/mo).

What percentage of Foster City residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 49.2% of Foster City households are renters, while 50.8% are owner-occupied. Foster City leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Foster City rent compare to the national average?

Foster City's median rent of $4,181/mo is $2,216 (113%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within California, it ranks #37 out of 387 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

25%

AFFORDABLE

At $4,181/mo, rent takes ~25% of Foster City's median household income ($199,143/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Foster City 25%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the Foster City affordability calculator →

Nearby cities