How much does it cost to rent in Gilroy, CA?

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Gilroy, CA is $3,273. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Gilroy cheaper than other California cities?

Gilroy is one of the pricier cities in California, ranking #110 out of 381 cities tracked at $3,273/mo.

When was Gilroy rent data last updated?

Gilroy rent data reflects August 2026 and was last refreshed on August 17, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

What is the Fair Market Rent in Gilroy, CA?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Gilroy, CA at $2,820 per month, which is 14% below the $3,273 market median. Fair Market Rent is the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) payment standard. It is a 40th-percentile gross rent that includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash, and HUD updates it once a year, so it measures something different from current market asking rent.

City Report · CA

Gilroy

Name: Average Rent Prices in Gilroy, CA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Pop. 59,004·110th most expensive in California·Gilroy rents are up 9.6% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$3,273/mo

Year-over-Year

+9.6%

Month-over-Month

+6.2%

vs US Median

+$1,311

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Gilroy · $3,273

More expensive than 94% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Rent Reality Score

38/100

Overpriced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 6% above what Gilroy's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.

Actual rent

$3,273/mo

Expected by trend

$3,087/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,150

1 BR

$2,430

2 BR

$2,820

3 BR

$3,610

4 BR+

$3,990

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$2,820/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $3,273 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 →

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost

$39,276/yr

At $3,273/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 9.6% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+9.6% YoY, +6.2% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

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.

Population

59,004

Median income

$133,107

Median age

Renters

37.6%

Age distribution

26.8%

21.3%

27.5%

13%

Under 1826.8%

18–3421.3%

35–5427.5%

55–6411.4%

65+13%

Gender

51%

49%

Male51%

Female49%

Race & ethnicity

31%

58.9%

White31%

Black1.9%

Hispanic58.9%

Asian9.4%

Education (25+)

16.6%

21.2%

32.9%

29.3%

No HS diploma16.6%

HS diploma21.2%

Some college32.9%

Bachelor's+29.3%

Housing tenure

62.4%

37.6%

Owner62.4%

Renter37.6%

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

2023 vs 2026

How Gilroy, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,436 → $3,273

up 34.4%

Income

$116,206 → $133,107

up 14.5%

Population

58,802 → 59,004

up 0.3%

Renter share

35.4% → 37.6%

+2.2 pts

Bachelor's+

28.5% → 29.3%

+0.8 pts

Median age

35 → 37

+2.0 yrs

Five years ago, renters in Gilroy, CA paid around $2,436 a month. That figure now sits near $3,273, up 34.4% from the 2023 baseline. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $116,206 in 2021 to $133,107 more recently. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. 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.

Community

Discussions about Gilroy

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View Gilroy rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Gilroy on your salary?

At $3,273/mo, how Gilroy rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 35.2% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 49.6% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 43.1% income

rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 24.1% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 18.9% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 53% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 58.7% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 47.6% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Gilroy rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Gilroy

About renting in Gilroy, CA

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Gilroy is $3,273/mo as of August 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 30% of local median household income ($133,107/yr), Gilroy ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 9.6% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Gilroy an affordable city for renters?

Gilroy is considered moderate for renters. At $3,273/mo, rent takes approximately 30% of the local median household income ($133,107/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Gilroy slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Gilroy?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $131,000/year (~$63/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,273/mo in Gilroy. The local median household income is $133,107/yr, meaning the typical Gilroy household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Gilroy?

Rent in Gilroy has increased 9.6% over the past year as of August 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Gilroy rent compare to other cities in California?

Gilroy is one of the pricier cities in California for rent, ranking #110 out of 381 tracked cities at $3,273/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Gilroy?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Gilroy ($3,273/mo): Hollister ($2,911/mo), Watsonville ($3,192/mo).

What percentage of Gilroy residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 37.6% of Gilroy households are renters, while 62.4% are owner-occupied. Gilroy leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Gilroy rent compare to the national average?

Gilroy's median rent of $3,273/mo is $1,311 (67%) above the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within California, it ranks #110 out of 381 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

30%

MODERATE

At $3,273/mo, rent takes ~30% of Gilroy's median household income ($133,107/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Gilroy 30%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the Gilroy affordability calculator →

Nearby cities