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

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Laguna Beach, CA is $5,068. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Laguna Beach cheaper than other California cities?

Laguna Beach is one of the pricier cities in California, ranking #18 out of 387 cities tracked at $5,068/mo.

When was Laguna Beach rent data last updated?

Laguna 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

Laguna Beach

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

Pop. 22,710·18th most expensive in California·One of the pricier rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$5,068/mo

Year-over-Year

-1.6%

Month-over-Month

+1.6%

vs US Median

+$3,103

Rising (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss Laguna Beach rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

Laguna Beach · $5,068

More expensive than 99% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

73/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 12% below what Laguna Beach's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$5,068/mo

Expected by trend

$5,739/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,890

1 BR

$3,020

2 BR

$3,570

3 BR

$4,830

4 BR+

$5,770

Research median

$3,570/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$60,816/yr

At $5,068/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (-1.6% YoY, +1.6% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

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.

Population

22,710

Median income

$143,843

Median age

53.9

Renters

33.9%

Age distribution

15.2%

12.5%

24.8%

17.4%

30.1%

Under 1815.2%

18–3412.5%

35–5424.8%

55–6417.4%

65+30.1%

Gender

51.2%

48.8%

Male51.2%

Female48.8%

Race & ethnicity

82.3%

White82.3%

Black0.6%

Hispanic9.6%

Asian3.9%

Other3.6%

Education (25+)

20.8%

69.3%

No HS diploma2.4%

HS diploma7.5%

Some college20.8%

Bachelor's+69.3%

Housing tenure

66.1%

33.9%

Owner66.1%

Renter33.9%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Laguna Beach, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$3,827 → $5,068

up 32.4%

Income

$135,976 → $143,843

up 5.8%

Population

23,121 → 22,710

down 1.8%

Renter share

34.2% → 33.9%

-0.3 pts

Bachelor's+

67.6% → 69.3%

+1.7 pts

Median age

52.5 → 53.9

+1.4 yrs

Rent in Laguna Beach, CA has climbed 32.4% since 2021, going from about $3,827 per month to roughly $5,068 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 26.6 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.

Community

Discussions about Laguna Beach

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

View Laguna Beach rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Laguna Beach on your salary?

At $5,068/mo, how Laguna Beach rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 54.6% income

severely rent-burdened

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 76.8% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 66.7% income

severely rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 37.3% income

stretched

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 29.2% income

affordable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 82.1% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 90.9% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 73.7% income

severely rent-burdened

By apartment size

Laguna Beach rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Laguna Beach

About renting in Laguna Beach, CA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Laguna Beach is $5,068/mo as of July 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 42% of local median household income ($143,843/yr), Laguna Beach ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 1.6% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Laguna Beach an affordable city for renters?

Laguna Beach is considered stretched for renters. At $5,068/mo, rent takes approximately 42% of the local median household income ($143,843/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Laguna Beach significantly exceeds that threshold, making it challenging for many renters.

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

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $203,000/year (~$98/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $5,068/mo in Laguna Beach. The local median household income is $143,843/yr, meaning the typical Laguna Beach household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Laguna Beach?

Rent in Laguna Beach has decreased 1.6% over the past year as of July 2026, offering some relief compared to 12 months ago.

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

Laguna Beach is one of the pricier cities in California for rent, ranking #18 out of 387 tracked cities at $5,068/mo.

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

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Laguna Beach ($5,068/mo): Laguna Woods ($2,894/mo), Laguna Hills ($3,048/mo), Laguna Niguel ($3,289/mo).

What percentage of Laguna Beach residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 33.9% of Laguna Beach households are renters, while 66.1% are owner-occupied. Laguna Beach leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Laguna Beach rent compare to the national average?

Laguna Beach's median rent of $5,068/mo is $3,103 (158%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within California, it ranks #18 out of 387 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

42%

STRETCHED

At $5,068/mo, rent takes ~42% of Laguna Beach's median household income ($143,843/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Laguna Beach 42%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the Laguna Beach affordability calculator →

Nearby cities