Rents are right about where Gilroy's 10-year trend predicts.
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 $3,099 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: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Gilroy is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2023.
Rent in Gilroy changed +3.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($133,107) is $3,328 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,820); a 3-bedroom is $3,610.
Salinas, 23 miles away, rents for 18% less ($2,530/mo), about $6,800 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Gilroy. 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
Gilroy, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 29.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Gilroy, CA has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Gilroy, CA paid around $2,801 a month. That figure now sits near $3,099, up 10.6% from the 2023 baseline. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $116,206 in 2021 to $133,107 more recently. With wages climbing faster than rent over the same window, renters here have a bit more breathing room than they did five years back. The renter share has risen from 35.4% to 37.6%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Gilroy, CA market of 2023.
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Can you afford rent in Gilroy on your salary?
At $3,099/mo, how Gilroy rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Gilroy rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Gilroy. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Gilroy
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Gilroy is $3,099/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,150/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,820/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,430/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,610/mo.
At 28% of local median household income ($133,107/yr), Gilroy ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Gilroy?
Is rent going up or down in Gilroy?
How does Gilroy rent compare to other cities in California?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Gilroy?
At $3,099/mo, rent takes ~28% of Gilroy's median household income ($133,107/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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