Rents are 3% below what National City'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 $2,426 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
Rent in National City is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in July 2022.
Rent in National City changed +3.9% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($66,841) is $1,671 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a studio ($1,600); a 1-bedroom is $1,740.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for National City. 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
National City, CA is majority renter-occupied, 18.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How National City, CA has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in National City, CA has shifted from $2,151 to $2,426, up 12.8% since 2023. On the earnings side, the typical household in National City, CA now reports about $66,841, up from $51,735 in 2021. With wages climbing faster than rent over the same window, renters here have a bit more breathing room than they did five years back. Census counts show National City, CA adding about 2,047 residents over the five-year window, up 3.6% on net. The renter share has eased from 67.3% to 65.3%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 15% to 18.1% across the same window. For context, the 2023 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and National City, CA reflects that arc in its own way.
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Can you afford rent in National City on your salary?
At $2,426/mo, how National City rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
National City rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in National City. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in National City
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in National City is $2,426/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,600/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,150/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,740/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,870/mo.
At 44% of local median household income ($66,841/yr), National City ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.9% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in National City?
Is rent going up or down in National City?
How does National City rent compare to other cities in California?
At $2,426/mo, rent takes ~44% of National City's median household income ($66,841/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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