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

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Larkspur, CA is $4,094. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Larkspur cheaper than other California cities?

Larkspur is one of the pricier cities in California, ranking #39 out of 381 cities tracked at $4,094/mo.

When was Larkspur rent data last updated?

Larkspur 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 Larkspur, CA?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Larkspur, CA at $3,720 per month, which is 9% below the $4,094 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

Larkspur

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

Pop. 12,854·39th most expensive in California·Larkspur rents are up 23.1% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$4,094/mo

Year-over-Year

+23.1%

Month-over-Month

+0.4%

vs US Median

+$2,132

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Larkspur · $4,094

More expensive than 98% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Affordability

35% of income

MODERATE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $4,094/mo, rent takes about 35% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$164,000/yr

Local median income

$140,417/yr

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,550

1 BR

$3,120

2 BR

$3,720

3 BR

$4,640

4 BR+

$4,930

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$3,720/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $4,094 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

$49,128/yr

At $4,094/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 23.1% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+23.1% YoY, +0.4% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Larkspur, CA is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 67.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

12,854

Median income

$140,417

Median age

51.2

Renters

53.5%

Age distribution

16.6%

15%

24.4%

18.5%

25.4%

Under 1816.6%

18–3415%

35–5424.4%

55–6418.5%

65+25.4%

Gender

46.8%

53.2%

Male46.8%

Female53.2%

Race & ethnicity

74%

White74%

Black0.7%

Hispanic8.8%

Asian6.7%

Other9.8%

Education (25+)

21.6%

67.9%

No HS diploma2.8%

HS diploma7.7%

Some college21.6%

Bachelor's+67.9%

Housing tenure

46.5%

53.5%

Owner46.5%

Renter53.5%

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

2023 vs 2026

How Larkspur, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$3,339 → $4,094

up 22.6%

Income

$135,260 → $140,417

up 3.8%

Population

12,972 → 12,854

down 0.9%

Renter share

53.5% → 53.5%

+0.0 pts

Bachelor's+

71.4% → 67.9%

-3.5 pts

Median age

50 → 51.2

+1.2 yrs

Five years ago, renters in Larkspur, CA paid around $3,339 a month. That figure now sits near $4,094, up 22.6% from the 2023 baseline. Household income in the area moved from $135,260 to $140,417 across the same window, up 3.8% versus 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 71.4% to 67.9% across the same window. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Larkspur, CA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

Discussions about Larkspur

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View Larkspur rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Larkspur on your salary?

At $4,094/mo, how Larkspur rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 44.1% income

rent-burdened

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 62.1% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 53.9% income

severely rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 30.1% income

stretched

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 23.6% income

affordable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 66.3% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 73.4% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 59.6% income

severely rent-burdened

By apartment size

Larkspur rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Larkspur

About renting in Larkspur, CA

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Larkspur is $4,094/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,550/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,720/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $3,120/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $4,640/mo.

At 35% of local median household income ($140,417/yr), Larkspur ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 23.1% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Larkspur an affordable city for renters?

Larkspur is considered moderate for renters. At $4,094/mo, rent takes approximately 35% of the local median household income ($140,417/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Larkspur slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Larkspur?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $164,000/year (~$79/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $4,094/mo in Larkspur. The local median household income is $140,417/yr, meaning the typical Larkspur household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Larkspur?

Rent in Larkspur has increased 23.1% over the past year as of August 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Larkspur rent compare to other cities in California?

Larkspur is one of the pricier cities in California for rent, ranking #39 out of 381 tracked cities at $4,094/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Larkspur?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Larkspur ($4,094/mo): San Rafael ($3,100/mo), San Anselmo ($3,752/mo).

What percentage of Larkspur residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 53.5% of Larkspur households are renters, while 46.5% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Larkspur has a strong rental market.

How does Larkspur rent compare to the national average?

Larkspur's median rent of $4,094/mo is $2,132 (109%) above the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within California, it ranks #39 out of 381 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

35%

MODERATE

At $4,094/mo, rent takes ~35% of Larkspur's median household income ($140,417/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Larkspur 35%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the Larkspur affordability calculator →

Nearby cities