How much does it cost to rent in Monrovia, CA?

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Monrovia, CA is $2,770. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Monrovia cheaper than other California cities?

Monrovia falls in the middle range for California, ranking #195 out of 381 cities at $2,770/mo.

When was Monrovia rent data last updated?

Monrovia rent data reflects August 2026 and was last refreshed on August 17, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

What is the Fair Market Rent in Monrovia, CA?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Monrovia, CA at $2,640 per month, which is 5% below the $2,770 market median. Fair Market Rent is the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) payment standard. It is a 40th-percentile gross rent that includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash, and HUD updates it once a year, so it measures something different from current market asking rent.

City Report · CA

Monrovia

Name: Average Rent Prices in Monrovia, CA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Pop. 37,571·195th most expensive in California·Monrovia rents have dropped 5.6%, currently a renter's market

Median rent (all units)

$2,770/mo

Year-over-Year

-5.6%

Month-over-Month

-3.5%

vs US Median

+$808

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Monrovia · $2,770

More expensive than 86% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Rent Reality Score

71/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 10% below what Monrovia's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$2,770/mo

Expected by trend

$3,089/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,870

1 BR

$2,090

2 BR

$2,640

3 BR

$3,350

4 BR+

$3,720

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$2,640/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,770 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 →

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost

$33,240/yr

At $2,770/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Renter's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are down 5.6% year-over-year. Push hard on price, concessions, and lease terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (-5.6% YoY, -3.5% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Monrovia, CA is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income above the national average, 42.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

37,571

Median income

$96,021

Median age

38.3

Renters

53.7%

Age distribution

21.7%

22.4%

27.1%

14.1%

14.7%

Under 1821.7%

18–3422.4%

35–5427.1%

55–6414.1%

65+14.7%

Gender

49.2%

50.8%

Male49.2%

Female50.8%

Race & ethnicity

35.4%

45.2%

15.8%

White35.4%

Black5.7%

Hispanic45.2%

Asian15.8%

Education (25+)

18.8%

27.4%

42.7%

No HS diploma11.2%

HS diploma18.8%

Some college27.4%

Bachelor's+42.7%

Housing tenure

46.3%

53.7%

Owner46.3%

Renter53.7%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Monrovia, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,160 → $2,770

up 28.2%

Income

$87,077 → $96,021

up 10.3%

Population

37,999 → 37,571

down 1.1%

Renter share

51.4% → 53.7%

+2.3 pts

Bachelor's+

42.7% → 42.7%

+0.0 pts

Median age

39.1 → 38.3

-0.8 yrs

Across the past five years, the going rent in Monrovia, CA has shifted from $2,160 to $2,770, up 28.2% since 2021. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $87,077 in 2021 to $96,021 more recently. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Monrovia, CA losing about 428 residents over the five-year window, down 1.1% on net. The renter share has risen from 51.4% to 53.7%, 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 Monrovia, CA market of 2021.

Community

Discussions about Monrovia

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View Monrovia rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Monrovia on your salary?

At $2,770/mo, how Monrovia rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 29.8% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 42% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 36.5% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 20.4% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 16% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 44.8% income

rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 49.7% income

rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 40.3% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Monrovia rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Monrovia

About renting in Monrovia, CA

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Monrovia is $2,770/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,870/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,640/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,090/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,350/mo.

At 35% of local median household income ($96,021/yr), Monrovia ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 5.6% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Monrovia an affordable city for renters?

Monrovia is considered moderate for renters. At $2,770/mo, rent takes approximately 35% of the local median household income ($96,021/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Monrovia slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Monrovia?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $111,000/year (~$53/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,770/mo in Monrovia. The local median household income is $96,021/yr, meaning the typical Monrovia household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Monrovia?

Rent in Monrovia has decreased 5.6% over the past year as of August 2026, offering some relief compared to 12 months ago.

How does Monrovia rent compare to other cities in California?

Monrovia is middle-of-the-pack for California for rent, ranking #195 out of 381 tracked cities at $2,770/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Monrovia?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Monrovia ($2,770/mo): Baldwin Park ($2,744/mo), Duarte ($2,768/mo).

What percentage of Monrovia residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 53.7% of Monrovia households are renters, while 46.3% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Monrovia has a strong rental market.

How does Monrovia rent compare to the national average?

Monrovia's median rent of $2,770/mo is $808 (41%) above the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within California, it ranks #195 out of 381 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

35%

MODERATE

At $2,770/mo, rent takes ~35% of Monrovia's median household income ($96,021/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Monrovia 35%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the Monrovia affordability calculator →

Nearby cities