Studio Apartment Rent in National City, CA
Median asking rent for a studio apartment in National City, California as of July 2026. That's +35% lower than the citywide median of $2,472 and +24% above the national studio median of $1,290.
Income needed for a studio in National City
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline (the threshold above which households are considered rent-burdened), here's what you need to earn to comfortably afford a studio at the current median rent.
Rent by apartment size in National City
Compare National City's median rent across every apartment size.
Cheapest cities for a studio in California
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florin | $738 |
| 2 | Ridgecrest | $838 |
| 3 | Taft | $870 |
| 4 | Lakeport | $890 |
| 5 | El Centro | $910 |
| 6 | Barstow | $920 |
| 7 | Red Bluff | $930 |
| 8 | California City | $940 |
| 9 | Clearlake | $950 |
| 10 | Paradise | $970 |
| 11 | Eureka | $980 |
| 12 | Oroville | $985 |
| 13 | Florence-Graham | $1,029 |
| 14 | Porterville | $1,050 |
| 15 | Anderson | $1,060 |
Most expensive cities for a studio in California
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Cruz | $3,520 |
| 2 | Scotts Valley | $3,420 |
| 3 | Aptos | $3,420 |
| 4 | Cupertino | $3,410 |
| 5 | Coronado | $3,190 |
| 6 | Ladera Ranch | $3,140 |
| 7 | Los Altos | $3,130 |
| 8 | Foster City | $3,130 |
| 9 | Newport Beach | $3,102 |
| 10 | Capitola | $3,100 |
| 11 | Coto de Caza | $3,070 |
| 12 | Sunnyvale | $3,010 |
| 13 | Santa Barbara | $3,000 |
| 14 | Irvine | $3,000 |
| 15 | Solana Beach | $2,970 |
Nearby cities — studio rent
Most nearby cities have similar or higher studio rents than National City.
| City | Distance | Studio rent | vs National City |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonita, CA | 5.3 mi | $2,260 | +$660 (+41%) |
| San Diego, CA | 5.5 mi | $2,363 | +$763 (+48%) |
| Lemon Grove, CA | 6 mi | $1,760 | +$160 (+10%) |
| Imperial Beach, CA | 6.9 mi | $1,910 | +$310 (+19%) |
| Chula Vista, CA | 7.2 mi | $2,626 | +$1,026 (+64%) |
| Spring Valley, CA | 7.9 mi | $1,760 | +$160 (+10%) |
| Coronado, CA | 8.2 mi | $3,190 | +$1,590 (+99%) |
| La Mesa, CA | 9 mi | $1,995 | +$395 (+25%) |
| Santee, CA | 14.5 mi | $2,010 | +$410 (+26%) |
| El Cajon, CA | 15.9 mi | $1,923 | +$323 (+20%) |
| Lakeside, CA | 21.6 mi | $1,860 | +$260 (+16%) |
| Poway, CA | 22.2 mi | $2,150 | +$550 (+34%) |
Studio rent in National City — common questions
How much is a studio apartment in National City?
As of July 2026, the median studio apartment rent in National City, California is $1,600 per month. This is +35% below the citywide median of $2,472.
What income do you need to afford a studio in National City?
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $64,000 ($5,333/month gross), which works out to roughly $30.77/hour at a full-time job.
Is National City expensive for a studio compared to the rest of the US?
National City's studio median of $1,600 is +24% above the national studio median of $1,290. It ranks in the 71th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does National City rank for studio rent in California?
Among the 383 cities in California with studio data, National City ranks #83 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper studio options near National City?
Most nearby cities have similar or higher studio rents than National City.