How much does it cost to rent in Los Altos, CA?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Los Altos, CA is $7,992. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Los Altos cheaper than other California cities?

Los Altos is one of the pricier cities in California, ranking #4 out of 387 cities tracked at $7,992/mo.

When was Los Altos rent data last updated?

Los Altos 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

Los Altos

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

Pop. 30,698·4th most expensive in California·Los Altos rents are up 23.4% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$7,992/mo

Year-over-Year

+23.4%

Month-over-Month

+6.4%

vs US Median

+$6,027

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Los Altos · $7,992

More expensive than 100% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

15/100

Overheated

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 17% above what Los Altos's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.

Actual rent

$7,992/mo

Expected by trend

$6,812/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$3,130

1 BR

$3,530

2 BR

$4,170

3 BR

$5,380

4 BR+

$5,850

Research median

$4,170/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

$95,904/yr

At $7,992/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 23.4% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+23.4% YoY, +6.4% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Los Altos, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 88.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

30,698

Median income

$250,001

Median age

45.9

Renters

18.3%

Age distribution

24.2%

13.5%

27.9%

13.7%

20.8%

Under 1824.2%

18–3413.5%

35–5427.9%

55–6413.7%

65+20.8%

Gender

50.7%

49.3%

Male50.7%

Female49.3%

Race & ethnicity

50.3%

39%

White50.3%

Hispanic6.1%

Asian39%

Other4.5%

Education (25+)

88.1%

No HS diploma1%

HS diploma3.1%

Some college7.8%

Bachelor's+88.1%

Housing tenure

81.7%

18.3%

Owner81.7%

Renter18.3%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Los Altos, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$5,249 → $7,992

up 52.3%

Income

$250,001 → $250,001

up 0.0%

Population

31,562 → 30,698

down 2.7%

Renter share

19.5% → 18.3%

-1.2 pts

Bachelor's+

85.9% → 88.1%

+2.2 pts

Rent in Los Altos, CA has increased 52.3% since 2021, going from about $5,249 per month to roughly $7,992 today. On the earnings side, the typical household in Los Altos, CA now reports about $250,001, up from $250,001 in 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 52.3 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 31,562 to 30,698 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.7% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 85.9% to 88.1%. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Los Altos, CA reflects that arc in its own way.

Community

Discussions about Los Altos

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View Los Altos rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Los Altos on your salary?

At $7,992/mo, how Los Altos rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 86% income

severely rent-burdened

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 121.2% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 105.2% income

severely rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 58.8% income

severely rent-burdened

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 46.1% income

rent-burdened

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 129.4% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 143.3% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 116.3% income

severely rent-burdened

By apartment size

Los Altos rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Los Altos

About renting in Los Altos, CA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Los Altos is $7,992/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $3,130/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $4,170/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $3,530/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $5,380/mo.

At 38% of local median household income ($250,001/yr), Los Altos ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 23.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Los Altos an affordable city for renters?

Los Altos is considered moderate for renters. At $7,992/mo, rent takes approximately 38% of the local median household income ($250,001/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Los Altos slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Los Altos?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $320,000/year (~$154/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $7,992/mo in Los Altos. The local median household income is $250,001/yr, meaning the typical Los Altos household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Los Altos?

Rent in Los Altos has increased 23.4% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Los Altos rent compare to other cities in California?

Los Altos is one of the pricier cities in California for rent, ranking #4 out of 387 tracked cities at $7,992/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Los Altos?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Los Altos ($7,992/mo): East Palo Alto ($3,608/mo), Cupertino ($4,267/mo), Palo Alto ($4,299/mo).

What percentage of Los Altos residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 18.3% of Los Altos households are renters, while 81.7% are owner-occupied. Los Altos leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Los Altos rent compare to the national average?

Los Altos's median rent of $7,992/mo is $6,027 (307%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within California, it ranks #4 out of 387 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

38%

MODERATE

At $7,992/mo, rent takes ~38% of Los Altos's median household income ($250,001/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Los Altos 38%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the Los Altos affordability calculator →

Nearby cities