1-Bedroom Apartment Rent in Imperial, CA
Median asking rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Imperial, California as of June 2026. That's +37% lower than the citywide median of $2,150 and +3% below the national 1-bedroom median of $1,395.
Income needed for a 1-bedroom in Imperial
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline (the threshold above which households are considered rent-burdened), here's what you need to earn to comfortably afford a 1-bedroom at the current median rent.
Rent by apartment size in Imperial
Compare Imperial's median rent across every apartment size.
Cheapest cities for a 1-bedroom in California
| # | City | 1-Bedroom rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taft | $880 |
| 2 | Lakeport | $900 |
| 3 | Ridgecrest | $935 |
| 4 | California City | $950 |
| 5 | Oildale | $959 |
| 6 | Oroville | $1,005 |
| 7 | Paradise | $1,020 |
| 8 | Red Bluff | $1,030 |
| 9 | Eureka | $1,040 |
| 10 | Porterville | $1,060 |
| 11 | Tehachapi | $1,110 |
| 12 | Hanford | $1,120 |
| 13 | McKinleyville | $1,130 |
| 14 | Anderson | $1,140 |
| 15 | Marysville | $1,140 |
Most expensive cities for a 1-bedroom in California
| # | City | 1-Bedroom rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cupertino | $3,880 |
| 2 | Foster City | $3,820 |
| 3 | Santa Cruz | $3,710 |
| 4 | Scotts Valley | $3,600 |
| 5 | Aptos | $3,600 |
| 6 | Tiburon | $3,530 |
| 7 | Los Altos | $3,530 |
| 8 | Coronado | $3,460 |
| 9 | Sunnyvale | $3,438 |
| 10 | Millbrae | $3,410 |
| 11 | Corte Madera | $3,390 |
| 12 | Santa Barbara | $3,382 |
| 13 | Soquel | $3,360 |
| 14 | Palo Alto | $3,305 |
| 15 | Mountain View | $3,303 |
Nearby cities — 1-bedroom rent
Most nearby cities have similar or higher 1-bedroom rents than Imperial.
| City | Distance | 1-Bedroom rent | vs Imperial |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Quinta, CA | 66.8 mi | $1,960 | +$610 (+45%) |
| Indio, CA | 69.9 mi | $1,790 | +$440 (+33%) |
| Alpine, CA | 71.6 mi | $2,210 | +$860 (+64%) |
| Palm Desert, CA | 76 mi | $1,945 | +$595 (+44%) |
| Rancho Mirage, CA | 80.4 mi | $1,930 | +$580 (+43%) |
| Ramona, CA | 81.9 mi | $2,250 | +$900 (+67%) |
| Lakeside, CA | 84 mi | $2,020 | +$670 (+50%) |
| Cathedral City, CA | 84.6 mi | $1,740 | +$390 (+29%) |
| El Cajon, CA | 85.1 mi | $2,087 | +$737 (+55%) |
| Palm Springs, CA | 85.9 mi | $1,860 | +$510 (+38%) |
| Desert Hot Springs, CA | 86.3 mi | $1,450 | +$100 (+7%) |
| Twentynine Palms, CA | 87 mi | $1,450 | +$100 (+7%) |
1-Bedroom rent in Imperial — common questions
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in Imperial?
As of June 2026, the median 1-bedroom apartment rent in Imperial, California is $1,350 per month. This is +37% below the citywide median of $2,150.
What income do you need to afford a 1-bedroom in Imperial?
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $54,000 ($4,500/month gross), which works out to roughly $25.96/hour at a full-time job.
Is Imperial expensive for a 1-bedroom compared to the rest of the US?
Imperial's 1-bedroom median of $1,350 is +3% below the national 1-bedroom median of $1,395. It ranks in the 46th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does Imperial rank for 1-bedroom rent in California?
Among the 381 cities in California with 1-bedroom data, Imperial ranks #38 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper 1-bedroom options near Imperial?
Most nearby cities have similar or higher 1-bedroom rents than Imperial.