Rents are right about where Lemon Grove's 10-year trend predicts.
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 $2,671 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
Rent in Lemon Grove is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2022.
Rent in Lemon Grove changed +4.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($88,009) is $2,200 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,910); a 2-bedroom is $2,360.
El Cajon, 9 miles away, rents for 15% less ($2,259/mo), about $4,900 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Lemon Grove. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Lemon Grove, CA is roughly split between renters and owners, 20.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Lemon Grove, CA has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2023, rent in Lemon Grove, CA has increased by $316 per month, settling near $2,671 after starting the period at $2,355. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $71,082 in 2021 to $88,009 more recently. Income growth outran rent by about 10.4 percentage points, easing the affordability math somewhat compared with 2021. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Lemon Grove, CA market of 2023.
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Can you afford rent in Lemon Grove on your salary?
At $2,671/mo, how Lemon Grove rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Lemon Grove rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Lemon Grove. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Lemon Grove
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Lemon Grove is $2,671/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,760/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,360/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,910/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,160/mo.
At 36% of local median household income ($88,009/yr), Lemon Grove ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.7% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Lemon Grove?
Is rent going up or down in Lemon Grove?
How does Lemon Grove rent compare to other cities in California?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Lemon Grove?
At $2,671/mo, rent takes ~36% of Lemon Grove's median household income ($88,009/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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