Rents are 6% below what Monterey Park's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
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 $2,638 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 Monterey Park usually run 0.4% below trend in December and 0.7% above it in August, about $29 a month apart at today's median. Based on 8 years of data.
Rent in Monterey Park is 0.6% below its high of $2,655 in July 2026, at $2,638 as of September 2026.
Rent in Monterey Park changed +1.2% 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 Monterey Park rose 31.5% while median household income rose 32.4% ($61,819 to $81,855). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in Monterey Park is 39% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has fallen 2 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($81,855) is $2,046 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,830); a 2-bedroom is $2,310.
East Los Angeles, 3 miles away, rents for 19% less ($2,125/mo), about $6,200 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Monterey Park. 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.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Monterey Park, CA is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large retiree population, 36.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Monterey Park, CA has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in Monterey Park, CA has shifted from $2,029 to $2,638, up 30.0% since 2021. On the earnings side, the typical household in Monterey Park, CA now reports about $81,855, up from $68,497 in 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Monterey Park, CA losing about 2,021 residents over the five-year window, down 3.3% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 33.6% to 36.2% across the same window. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Monterey Park, CA reflects that arc in its own way.
Discussions about Monterey Park
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Monterey Park on your salary?
At $2,638/mo, how Monterey Park rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Monterey Park rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Monterey Park. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Monterey Park
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Monterey Park is $2,638/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,625/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,310/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,830/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,950/mo.
At 39% of local median household income ($81,855/yr), Monterey Park ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.2% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Monterey Park?
Is rent going up or down in Monterey Park?
When is the cheapest time to rent in Monterey Park?
Has rent outpaced income in Monterey Park?
Which Monterey Park neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Monterey Park rent compare to other cities in California?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Monterey Park?
At $2,638/mo, rent takes ~39% of Monterey Park's median household income ($81,855/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Monterey Park.
No discussions yet.