Rents are 10% below what Ontario'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 $2,580 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 Ontario usually run 1% below trend in December and 1.1% above it in August, about $54 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Ontario is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Ontario changed +2.5% 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 Ontario rose 38.5% while median household income rose 36.7% ($65,046 to $88,941). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Ontario is 43.1% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($88,941) is $2,224 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($2,153); a 2-bedroom is $2,680.
The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Ontario, 91764 ($2,600/mo), costs 1% more than the cheapest, 91762 ($2,562/mo).
Pomona, 8 miles away, rents for 10% less ($2,319/mo), about $3,100 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Ontario. 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.
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Who lives here
Ontario, CA is majority owner-occupied, 22.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Ontario, CA has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2021, rent in Ontario, CA has climbed by $564 per month, settling near $2,580 after starting the period at $2,016. On the earnings side, the typical household in Ontario, CA now reports about $88,941, up from $71,908 in 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 4.3 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 175,223 to 180,547 between 2021 and 2024, a 3.0% change. About 42% of households rent today, against 44.6% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 18.6% to 22.5%. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Ontario, CA reflects that arc in its own way.
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Can you afford rent in Ontario on your salary?
At $2,580/mo, how Ontario rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Ontario rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Ontario. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Ontario
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Ontario is $2,580/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,067/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,680/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,153/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,577/mo.
At 35% of local median household income ($88,941/yr), Ontario ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.5% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Ontario?
At $2,580/mo, rent takes ~35% of Ontario's median household income ($88,941/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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