Rents are 14% 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 $4,980 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: August 17, 2026
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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 30.1% since 2021, going from about $3,827 per month to roughly $4,980 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 24.3 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
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Can you afford rent in Laguna Beach on your salary?
At $4,980/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: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Laguna Beach is $4,980/mo as of August 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 3.3% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
Is Laguna Beach an affordable city for renters?
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Is rent going up or down 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?
What percentage of Laguna Beach residents rent vs. own?
How does Laguna Beach rent compare to the national average?
At $4,980/mo, rent takes ~42% of Laguna Beach's median household income ($143,843/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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