How much does it cost to rent in Pacifica, CA?

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Pacifica, CA is $3,582. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Pacifica cheaper than other California cities?

Pacifica is one of the pricier cities in California, ranking #71 out of 381 cities tracked at $3,582/mo.

When was Pacifica rent data last updated?

Pacifica rent data reflects August 2026 and was last refreshed on August 17, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

What is the Fair Market Rent in Pacifica, CA?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Pacifica, CA at $3,310 per month, which is 8% below the $3,582 market median. Fair Market Rent is the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) payment standard. It is a 40th-percentile gross rent that includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash, and HUD updates it once a year, so it measures something different from current market asking rent.

City Report · CA

Pacifica

Name: Average Rent Prices in Pacifica, CA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Pop. 37,261·71st most expensive in California·Pacifica rents are up 9.8% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$3,582/mo

Year-over-Year

+9.8%

Month-over-Month

Stable

vs US Median

+$1,620

Stable (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss Pacifica rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

Pacifica · $3,582

More expensive than 96% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Rent Reality Score

34/100

Overpriced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 8% above what Pacifica's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.

Actual rent

$3,582/mo

Expected by trend

$3,318/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,270

1 BR

$2,770

2 BR

$3,310

3 BR

$4,130

4 BR+

$4,390

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$3,310/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $3,582 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 →

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost

$42,984/yr

At $3,582/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 9.8% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+9.8% YoY, -0.1% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Pacifica, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 48.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

37,261

Median income

$160,523

Median age

44.6

Renters

32.3%

Age distribution

18.2%

16.9%

30.3%

14.2%

20.4%

Under 1818.2%

18–3416.9%

35–5430.3%

55–6414.2%

65+20.4%

Gender

50%

Male50%

Female50%

Race & ethnicity

52%

19.6%

22.2%

White52%

Black1.2%

Hispanic19.6%

Asian22.2%

Other5%

Education (25+)

16.6%

29.9%

48.9%

No HS diploma4.6%

HS diploma16.6%

Some college29.9%

Bachelor's+48.9%

Housing tenure

67.7%

32.3%

Owner67.7%

Renter32.3%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Pacifica, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,884 → $3,582

up 24.2%

Income

$138,548 → $160,523

up 15.9%

Population

38,595 → 37,261

down 3.5%

Renter share

31.2% → 32.3%

+1.1 pts

Bachelor's+

47.2% → 48.9%

+1.7 pts

Median age

43.4 → 44.6

+1.2 yrs

Since 2021, the typical rent in Pacifica, CA has increased from $2,884 to $3,582, a 24.2% change over five years. Median household income rose from $138,548 to $160,523 between 2021 and 2024, a 15.9% shift. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 3.5% since 2021, moving from about 38,595 residents to roughly 37,261. Taken together, the five-year picture in Pacifica, CA reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

Community

Discussions about Pacifica

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View Pacifica rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Pacifica on your salary?

At $3,582/mo, how Pacifica rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 38.6% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 54.3% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 47.1% income

rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 26.4% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 20.6% income

affordable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 58% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 64.2% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 52.1% income

severely rent-burdened

By apartment size

Pacifica rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Pacifica

About renting in Pacifica, CA

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Pacifica is $3,582/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,270/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,310/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,770/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $4,130/mo.

At 27% of local median household income ($160,523/yr), Pacifica ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 9.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Pacifica an affordable city for renters?

Pacifica is considered affordable for renters. At $3,582/mo, rent takes approximately 27% of the local median household income ($160,523/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Pacifica falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Pacifica?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $143,000/year (~$69/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,582/mo in Pacifica. The local median household income is $160,523/yr, meaning the typical Pacifica household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Pacifica?

Rent in Pacifica has increased 9.8% over the past year as of August 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Pacifica rent compare to other cities in California?

Pacifica is one of the pricier cities in California for rent, ranking #71 out of 381 tracked cities at $3,582/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Pacifica?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Pacifica ($3,582/mo): Daly City ($2,765/mo), San Bruno ($3,338/mo).

What percentage of Pacifica residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 32.3% of Pacifica households are renters, while 67.7% are owner-occupied. Pacifica leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Pacifica rent compare to the national average?

Pacifica's median rent of $3,582/mo is $1,620 (83%) above the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within California, it ranks #71 out of 381 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

27%

AFFORDABLE

At $3,582/mo, rent takes ~27% of Pacifica's median household income ($160,523/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Pacifica 27%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the Pacifica affordability calculator →

Nearby cities