Rents are 13% above what Millbrae'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 $4,081 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
November. Asking rents in Millbrae usually run 1.4% below trend in November and 1.1% above it in May, about $102 a month apart at today's median. Based on 6 years of data.
Rent in Millbrae is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in July 2019.
Rent in Millbrae changed +18.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
Rent in Millbrae is 28.8% 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 11 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($163,476) is $4,087 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($4,070); a 3-bedroom is $5,080.
San Bruno, 2 miles away, rents for 18% less ($3,346/mo), about $8,800 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Millbrae. 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
Millbrae, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 52.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Millbrae, CA has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Millbrae, CA paid around $2,944 a month. That figure now sits near $4,081, up 38.6% from the 2021 baseline. On the earnings side, the typical household in Millbrae, CA now reports about $163,476, up from $141,399 in 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Millbrae, CA losing about 394 residents over the five-year window, down 1.7% on net. The renter share has risen from 37% to 39.2%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Millbrae, CA reflects that arc in its own way.
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At $4,081/mo, how Millbrae rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Millbrae rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Millbrae. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Millbrae
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Millbrae is $4,081/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,790/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $4,070/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $3,410/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $5,080/mo.
At 30% of local median household income ($163,476/yr), Millbrae ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 18.5% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Millbrae rent compare to other cities in California?
At $4,081/mo, rent takes ~30% of Millbrae's median household income ($163,476/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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