Studio Apartment Rent in Menlo Park, CA
Median asking rent for a studio apartment in Menlo Park, California as of July 2026. That's +42% lower than the citywide median of $4,400 and +98% above the national studio median of $1,290.
Income needed for a studio in Menlo Park
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline (the threshold above which households are considered rent-burdened), here's what you need to earn to comfortably afford a studio at the current median rent.
Rent by apartment size in Menlo Park
Compare Menlo Park's median rent across every apartment size.
Cheapest cities for a studio in California
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florin | $738 |
| 2 | Ridgecrest | $838 |
| 3 | Taft | $870 |
| 4 | Lakeport | $890 |
| 5 | El Centro | $910 |
| 6 | Barstow | $920 |
| 7 | Red Bluff | $930 |
| 8 | California City | $940 |
| 9 | Clearlake | $950 |
| 10 | Paradise | $970 |
| 11 | Eureka | $980 |
| 12 | Oroville | $985 |
| 13 | Florence-Graham | $1,029 |
| 14 | Porterville | $1,050 |
| 15 | Anderson | $1,060 |
Most expensive cities for a studio in California
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Cruz | $3,520 |
| 2 | Scotts Valley | $3,420 |
| 3 | Aptos | $3,420 |
| 4 | Cupertino | $3,410 |
| 5 | Coronado | $3,190 |
| 6 | Ladera Ranch | $3,140 |
| 7 | Los Altos | $3,130 |
| 8 | Foster City | $3,130 |
| 9 | Newport Beach | $3,102 |
| 10 | Capitola | $3,100 |
| 11 | Coto de Caza | $3,070 |
| 12 | Sunnyvale | $3,010 |
| 13 | Santa Barbara | $3,000 |
| 14 | Irvine | $3,000 |
| 15 | Solana Beach | $2,970 |
Nearby cities — studio rent
Considering nearby alternatives? 5 of these cities have cheaper studio rents than Menlo Park.
| City | Distance | Studio rent | vs Menlo Park |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palo Alto, CA | 3.1 mi | $2,900 | +$340 (+13%) |
| East Palo Alto, CA | 4.2 mi | $2,150 | $-410 (-16%) |
| Redwood City, CA | 4.4 mi | $2,560 | — |
| San Carlos, CA | 7.1 mi | $2,430 | $-130 (-5%) |
| Los Altos, CA | 7.2 mi | $3,130 | +$570 (+22%) |
| Mountain View, CA | 8.1 mi | $2,890 | +$330 (+13%) |
| Foster City, CA | 9.3 mi | $3,130 | +$570 (+22%) |
| Belmont, CA | 9.3 mi | $2,530 | $-30 (-1%) |
| Newark, CA | 10.4 mi | $1,990 | $-570 (-22%) |
| Sunnyvale, CA | 11.8 mi | $3,010 | +$450 (+18%) |
| San Mateo, CA | 11.8 mi | $2,537 | $-23 (-1%) |
| Cupertino, CA | 12.3 mi | $3,410 | +$850 (+33%) |
Studio rent in Menlo Park — common questions
How much is a studio apartment in Menlo Park?
As of July 2026, the median studio apartment rent in Menlo Park, California is $2,560 per month. This is +42% below the citywide median of $4,400.
What income do you need to afford a studio in Menlo Park?
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $102,400 ($8,533/month gross), which works out to roughly $49.23/hour at a full-time job.
Is Menlo Park expensive for a studio compared to the rest of the US?
Menlo Park's studio median of $2,560 is +98% above the national studio median of $1,290. It ranks in the 97th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does Menlo Park rank for studio rent in California?
Among the 383 cities in California with studio data, Menlo Park ranks #324 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper studio options near Menlo Park?
Yes — nearby cities with cheaper studio rents include East Palo Alto ($2,150), San Carlos ($2,430), Belmont ($2,530).