How much does it cost to rent in Mountain View, CA?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Mountain View, CA is $4,334. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Mountain View cheaper than other California cities?

Mountain View is one of the pricier cities in California, ranking #30 out of 387 cities tracked at $4,334/mo.

When was Mountain View rent data last updated?

Mountain View rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · CA

Mountain View

Name: Average Rent Prices in Mountain View, CA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 83,732·30th most expensive in California·Mountain View rents are up 11.5% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$4,334/mo

Year-over-Year

+11.5%

Month-over-Month

+3.8%

vs US Median

+$2,369

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Mountain View · $4,334

More expensive than 98% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

24/100

Overpriced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 13% above what Mountain View's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.

Actual rent

$4,334/mo

Expected by trend

$3,835/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,890

1 BR

$3,303

2 BR

$3,823

3 BR

$4,963

4 BR+

$5,413

Research median

$3,823/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$52,008/yr

At $4,334/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 11.5% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+11.5% YoY, +3.8% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Mountain View, CA is majority renter-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 75% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

83,732

Median income

$189,917

Median age

35.5

Renters

61.4%

Age distribution

19.9%

28.8%

29%

Under 1819.9%

18–3428.8%

35–5429%

55–6410.3%

65+12%

Gender

52.1%

47.9%

Male52.1%

Female47.9%

Race & ethnicity

39.6%

17.5%

36.3%

White39.6%

Black2.4%

Hispanic17.5%

Asian36.3%

Other4.2%

Education (25+)

12.3%

75%

No HS diploma5%

HS diploma7.7%

Some college12.3%

Bachelor's+75%

Housing tenure

38.6%

61.4%

Owner38.6%

Renter61.4%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Mountain View, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$3,181 → $4,334

up 36.2%

Income

$158,104 → $189,917

up 20.1%

Population

82,409 → 83,732

up 1.6%

Renter share

60% → 61.4%

+1.4 pts

Bachelor's+

72.1% → 75%

+2.9 pts

Since 2021, the typical rent in Mountain View, CA has increased from $3,181 to $4,334, a 36.2% change over five years. Household income in the area moved from $158,104 to $189,917 across the same window, up 20.1% versus 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 1.6% since 2021, moving from about 82,409 residents to roughly 83,732. College-educated residents now make up 75% of adults here, versus 72.1% in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Mountain View, CA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

Discussions about Mountain View

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View Mountain View rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Mountain View on your salary?

At $4,334/mo, how Mountain View rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 46.6% income

rent-burdened

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 65.7% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 57% income

severely rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 31.9% income

stretched

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 25% income

affordable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 70.2% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 77.7% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 63.1% income

severely rent-burdened

By apartment size

Mountain View rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Mountain View

About renting in Mountain View, CA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Mountain View is $4,334/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,890/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,823/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $3,303/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $4,963/mo.

At 27% of local median household income ($189,917/yr), Mountain View ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 11.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Mountain View an affordable city for renters?

Mountain View is considered affordable for renters. At $4,334/mo, rent takes approximately 27% of the local median household income ($189,917/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Mountain View falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Mountain View?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $173,000/year (~$83/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $4,334/mo in Mountain View. The local median household income is $189,917/yr, meaning the typical Mountain View household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Mountain View?

Rent in Mountain View has increased 11.5% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Mountain View neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Mountain View are 94040 ($4,198/mo), 94043 ($4,406/mo), and 94041 ($4,579/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Mountain View is $4,334/mo.

How does Mountain View rent compare to other cities in California?

Mountain View is one of the pricier cities in California for rent, ranking #30 out of 387 tracked cities at $4,334/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Mountain View?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Mountain View ($4,334/mo): East Palo Alto ($3,608/mo), Sunnyvale ($3,821/mo), Cupertino ($4,267/mo).

What percentage of Mountain View residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 61.4% of Mountain View households are renters, while 38.6% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Mountain View has a strong rental market.

How does Mountain View rent compare to the national average?

Mountain View's median rent of $4,334/mo is $2,369 (121%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within California, it ranks #30 out of 387 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

27%

AFFORDABLE

At $4,334/mo, rent takes ~27% of Mountain View's median household income ($189,917/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Mountain View 27%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the Mountain View affordability calculator →

Nearby cities