Rents are 5% above what Manhattan Beach'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 $6,406 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
December. Asking rents in Manhattan Beach usually run 1.5% below trend in December and 1.4% above it in June, about $186 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Manhattan Beach is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in March 2015.
Rent in Manhattan Beach changed +9.8% 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 Manhattan Beach rose 32.9% while median household income rose 33.5% ($153,023 to $204,306). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in Manhattan Beach is 51.9% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($204,306) is $5,108 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($5,010); a 4-bedroom is $5,550.
Hermosa Beach, 2 miles away, rents for 38% less ($3,970/mo), about $29,200 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Manhattan Beach. 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
Manhattan Beach, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 78.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Manhattan Beach, CA has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in Manhattan Beach, CA has shifted from $4,387 to $6,406, up 46.0% since 2021. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $169,586 in 2021 to $204,306 more recently. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Manhattan Beach, CA losing about 1,375 residents over the five-year window, down 3.9% on net. The renter share has risen from 32.2% to 35.2%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Manhattan Beach, CA market of 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Manhattan Beach on your salary?
At $6,406/mo, how Manhattan Beach rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Manhattan Beach rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Manhattan Beach. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Manhattan Beach
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Manhattan Beach is $6,406/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,790/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,940/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $3,120/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $5,010/mo.
At 38% of local median household income ($204,306/yr), Manhattan Beach ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 9.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Manhattan Beach?
At $6,406/mo, rent takes ~38% of Manhattan Beach's median household income ($204,306/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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