Rents are 3% below what Laguna Beach's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
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 $5,519 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
October. Asking rents in Laguna Beach usually run 1.9% below trend in October and 2% above it in May, about $215 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Laguna Beach is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Laguna Beach changed +7.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Laguna Beach rose 48.5% while median household income rose 10.7% ($129,983 to $143,843). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Laguna Beach is 66.9% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($143,843) is $3,596 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($3,570); a 3-bedroom is $4,830.
Aliso Viejo, 2 miles away, rents for 37% less ($3,484/mo), about $24,400 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Laguna Beach. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Laguna Beach, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 69.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Laguna Beach, CA has changed in 5 years
Rent in Laguna Beach, CA has climbed 47.4% since 2021, going from about $3,744 per month to roughly $5,519 today. Household income in the area moved from $135,976 to $143,843 across the same window, up 5.8% versus 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 41.6 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 23,121 to 22,710 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.8% change. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Laguna Beach, CA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
Discussions about Laguna Beach
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Laguna Beach on your salary?
At $5,519/mo, how Laguna Beach rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Laguna Beach rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Laguna Beach. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Laguna Beach
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Laguna Beach is $5,519/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,890/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,570/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $3,020/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $4,830/mo.
At 46% of local median household income ($143,843/yr), Laguna Beach ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Laguna Beach?
Is rent going up or down in Laguna Beach?
When is the cheapest time to rent in Laguna Beach?
Has rent outpaced income in Laguna Beach?
How does Laguna Beach rent compare to other cities in California?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Laguna Beach?
At $5,519/mo, rent takes ~46% of Laguna Beach's median household income ($143,843/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Laguna Beach.
No discussions yet.