How much does it cost to rent in Imperial Beach, CA?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Imperial Beach, CA is $3,011. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Imperial Beach cheaper than other California cities?

Imperial Beach falls in the middle range for California, ranking #149 out of 387 cities at $3,011/mo.

When was Imperial Beach rent data last updated?

Imperial Beach 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

Imperial Beach

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

Pop. 25,764·149th most expensive in California·Imperial Beach rents are up 9.6% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$3,011/mo

Year-over-Year

+9.6%

Month-over-Month

-2.6%

vs US Median

+$1,046

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Imperial Beach · $3,011

More expensive than 91% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

68/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 9% below what Imperial Beach's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$3,011/mo

Expected by trend

$3,313/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,910

1 BR

$2,080

2 BR

$2,570

3 BR

$3,440

4 BR+

$4,180

Research median

$2,570/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

$36,132/yr

At $3,011/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (9.6% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+9.6% YoY, -2.6% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Imperial Beach, CA is majority renter-occupied, 26.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

25,764

Median income

$86,111

Median age

35.1

Renters

68.7%

Age distribution

21.9%

27.8%

12.3%

Under 1821.9%

18–3427.8%

35–5427.8%

55–6410.2%

65+12.3%

Gender

51.7%

48.3%

Male51.7%

Female48.3%

Race & ethnicity

40%

53%

White40%

Black3.9%

Hispanic53%

Asian6.2%

Education (25+)

28.6%

32.7%

26.7%

No HS diploma12%

HS diploma28.6%

Some college32.7%

Bachelor's+26.7%

Housing tenure

31.3%

68.7%

Owner31.3%

Renter68.7%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Imperial Beach, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,122 → $3,011

up 41.9%

Income

$68,917 → $86,111

up 24.9%

Population

26,375 → 25,764

down 2.3%

Renter share

68.2% → 68.7%

+0.5 pts

Bachelor's+

23.4% → 26.7%

+3.3 pts

Median age

33.4 → 35.1

+1.7 yrs

Compared with 2021, rent in Imperial Beach, CA has increased by $889 per month, settling near $3,011 after starting the period at $2,122. Median household income grew from $68,917 to $86,111 between 2021 and 2024, a 24.9% shift. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 17.0 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 26,375 to 25,764 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.3% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 23.4% to 26.7%. Taken together, the five-year picture in Imperial Beach, CA reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

Community

Discussions about Imperial Beach

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View Imperial Beach rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Imperial Beach on your salary?

At $3,011/mo, how Imperial Beach rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 32.4% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 45.6% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 39.6% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 22.2% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 17.4% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 48.8% income

rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 54% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 43.8% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Imperial Beach rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Imperial Beach

About renting in Imperial Beach, CA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Imperial Beach is $3,011/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,910/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,570/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,080/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,440/mo.

At 42% of local median household income ($86,111/yr), Imperial Beach ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 9.6% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Imperial Beach an affordable city for renters?

Imperial Beach is considered stretched for renters. At $3,011/mo, rent takes approximately 42% of the local median household income ($86,111/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Imperial Beach significantly exceeds that threshold, making it challenging for many renters.

How much income do you need to rent in Imperial Beach?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $120,000/year (~$58/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,011/mo in Imperial Beach. The local median household income is $86,111/yr, meaning the typical Imperial Beach household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Imperial Beach?

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

How does Imperial Beach rent compare to other cities in California?

Imperial Beach is middle-of-the-pack for California for rent, ranking #149 out of 387 tracked cities at $3,011/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Imperial Beach?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Imperial Beach ($3,011/mo): National City ($2,472/mo), Chula Vista ($3,008/mo).

What percentage of Imperial Beach residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 68.7% of Imperial Beach households are renters, while 31.3% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Imperial Beach has a strong rental market.

How does Imperial Beach rent compare to the national average?

Imperial Beach's median rent of $3,011/mo is $1,046 (53%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within California, it ranks #149 out of 387 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

42%

STRETCHED

At $3,011/mo, rent takes ~42% of Imperial Beach's median household income ($86,111/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Imperial Beach 42%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the Imperial Beach affordability calculator →

Nearby cities