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

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Lafayette, CA is $3,668. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Lafayette cheaper than other California cities?

Lafayette is one of the pricier cities in California, ranking #64 out of 381 cities tracked at $3,668/mo.

When was Lafayette rent data last updated?

Lafayette 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 Lafayette, CA?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Lafayette, CA at $3,510 per month, which is 4% below the $3,668 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

Lafayette

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

Pop. 25,285·64th most expensive in California·Lafayette rents are up 35.0% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$3,668/mo

Year-over-Year

+35.0%

Month-over-Month

-7.7%

vs US Median

+$1,706

Falling (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss Lafayette rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

Lafayette · $3,668

More expensive than 97% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Affordability

19% of income

VERY AFFORDABLE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $3,668/mo, rent takes about 19% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$147,000/yr

Local median income

$228,250/yr

Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Lafayette's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,530

1 BR

$2,880

2 BR

$3,510

3 BR

$4,490

4 BR+

$5,340

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$3,510/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $3,668 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

$44,016/yr

At $3,668/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 35.0% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+35.0% YoY, -7.7% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Lafayette, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 79% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

25,285

Median income

$228,250

Median age

45.7

Renters

22.9%

Age distribution

25.7%

29.4%

12.8%

21.3%

Under 1825.7%

18–3410.9%

35–5429.4%

55–6412.8%

65+21.3%

Gender

49%

51%

Male49%

Female51%

Race & ethnicity

73.1%

White73.1%

Black0.8%

Hispanic8%

Asian10.2%

Other7.9%

Education (25+)

16%

79%

No HS diploma1%

HS diploma4.1%

Some college16%

Bachelor's+79%

Housing tenure

77.1%

22.9%

Owner77.1%

Renter22.9%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Lafayette, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,921 → $3,668

up 25.6%

Income

$192,546 → $228,250

up 18.5%

Population

25,384 → 25,285

down 0.4%

Renter share

28.4% → 22.9%

-5.5 pts

Bachelor's+

74.2% → 79%

+4.8 pts

Median age

44.8 → 45.7

+0.9 yrs

Across the past five years, the going rent in Lafayette, CA has shifted from $2,921 to $3,668, up 25.6% since 2021. Median household income climbed from $192,546 to $228,250 between 2021 and 2024, a 18.5% shift. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. The renter share has eased from 28.4% to 22.9%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 74.2% to 79% across the same window. Taken together, the five-year picture in Lafayette, 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 Lafayette

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View Lafayette rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Lafayette on your salary?

At $3,668/mo, how Lafayette rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 39.5% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 55.6% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 48.3% income

rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 27% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 21.1% income

affordable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 59.4% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 65.8% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 53.4% income

severely rent-burdened

By apartment size

Lafayette rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Lafayette

About renting in Lafayette, CA

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Lafayette is $3,668/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,530/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,510/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,880/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $4,490/mo.

At 19% of local median household income ($228,250/yr), Lafayette ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 35.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Lafayette an affordable city for renters?

Lafayette is considered very affordable for renters. At $3,668/mo, rent takes approximately 19% of the local median household income ($228,250/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Lafayette falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Lafayette?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $147,000/year (~$71/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,668/mo in Lafayette. The local median household income is $228,250/yr, meaning the typical Lafayette household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Lafayette?

Rent in Lafayette has increased 35.0% over the past year as of August 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Lafayette rent compare to other cities in California?

Lafayette is one of the pricier cities in California for rent, ranking #64 out of 381 tracked cities at $3,668/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Lafayette?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Lafayette ($3,668/mo): Martinez ($2,485/mo), Pleasant Hill ($2,759/mo), Walnut Creek ($2,969/mo).

What percentage of Lafayette residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 22.9% of Lafayette households are renters, while 77.1% are owner-occupied. Lafayette leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Lafayette rent compare to the national average?

Lafayette's median rent of $3,668/mo is $1,706 (87%) above the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within California, it ranks #64 out of 381 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

19%

VERY AFFORDABLE

At $3,668/mo, rent takes ~19% of Lafayette's median household income ($228,250/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Lafayette 19%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the Lafayette affordability calculator →

Nearby cities