Rents are 7% above what Los Gatos's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.
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 $4,004 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
February. Asking rents in Los Gatos usually run 0.5% below trend in February and 0.5% above it in September, about $40 a month apart at today's median. Based on 10 years of data.
Rent in Los Gatos is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in August 2016.
Rent in Los Gatos changed +7.9% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Los Gatos rose 14.7% while median household income rose 39.6% ($155,863 to $217,554). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in Los Gatos is 32.4% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 5 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($217,554) is $5,439 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($5,090).
Campbell, 4 miles away, rents for 14% less ($3,433/mo), about $6,900 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Los Gatos. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. 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
Los Gatos, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 75% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Los Gatos, CA has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Los Gatos, CA paid around $2,921 a month. That figure now sits near $4,004, up 37.1% from the 2021 baseline. Household income in the area moved from $166,642 to $217,554 across the same window, up 30.6% versus 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Los Gatos, CA losing about 523 residents over the five-year window, down 1.6% on net. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Los Gatos, CA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in Los Gatos on your salary?
At $4,004/mo, how Los Gatos rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Los Gatos rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Los Gatos. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Los Gatos
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Los Gatos is $4,004/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,720/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,595/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $3,105/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $4,670/mo.
At 22% of local median household income ($217,554/yr), Los Gatos ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.9% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Los Gatos?
At $4,004/mo, rent takes ~22% of Los Gatos's median household income ($217,554/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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