1-Bedroom Apartment Rent in Petaluma, CA
Median asking rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Petaluma, California as of October 2026. That's +11% lower than the citywide median of $2,869 and +83% above the national 1-bedroom median of $1,395.
Income needed for a 1-bedroom in Petaluma
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 1-bedroom at the current median rent.
Rent by apartment size in Petaluma
Compare Petaluma's median rent across every apartment size.
Cheapest cities for a 1-bedroom in California
| # | City | 1-Bedroom rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taft | $880 |
| 2 | Lakeport | $900 |
| 3 | Ridgecrest | $938 |
| 4 | California City | $950 |
| 5 | Clearlake | $950 |
| 6 | Oroville | $1,005 |
| 7 | El Centro | $1,020 |
| 8 | Paradise | $1,020 |
| 9 | Red Bluff | $1,030 |
| 10 | Eureka | $1,040 |
| 11 | Fortuna | $1,050 |
| 12 | Porterville | $1,060 |
| 13 | Shafter | $1,060 |
| 14 | Tehachapi | $1,110 |
| 15 | Hanford | $1,120 |
Most expensive cities for a 1-bedroom in California
| # | City | 1-Bedroom rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montecito | $4,030 |
| 2 | Cupertino | $3,880 |
| 3 | Foster City | $3,820 |
| 4 | Scotts Valley | $3,600 |
| 5 | Aptos | $3,600 |
| 6 | Tiburon | $3,530 |
| 7 | Los Altos | $3,530 |
| 8 | Coronado | $3,460 |
| 9 | Sunnyvale | $3,438 |
| 10 | Millbrae | $3,410 |
| 11 | Corte Madera | $3,390 |
| 12 | Santa Barbara | $3,382 |
| 13 | Palo Alto | $3,305 |
| 14 | Mountain View | $3,303 |
| 15 | Ladera Ranch | $3,280 |
Nearby cities — 1-bedroom rent
Considering nearby alternatives? 5 of these cities have cheaper 1-bedroom rents than Petaluma.
| City | Distance | 1-Bedroom rent | vs Petaluma |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rohnert Park, CA | 8.1 mi | $2,260 | $-295 (-12%) |
| Novato, CA | 11.5 mi | $2,567 | +$12 (0%) |
| Sonoma, CA | 13.3 mi | $2,050 | $-505 (-20%) |
| Santa Rosa, CA | 16.1 mi | $2,098 | $-457 (-18%) |
| San Anselmo, CA | 17.4 mi | $2,710 | +$155 (+6%) |
| Sebastopol, CA | 18 mi | $1,970 | $-585 (-23%) |
| San Rafael, CA | 18.6 mi | $2,855 | +$300 (+12%) |
| Larkspur, CA | 22.3 mi | $3,120 | +$565 (+22%) |
| Windsor, CA | 23.1 mi | $2,370 | $-185 (-7%) |
| Corte Madera, CA | 23.4 mi | $3,390 | +$835 (+33%) |
| Mill Valley, CA | 24.2 mi | $3,090 | +$535 (+21%) |
| American Canyon, CA | 27.4 mi | $2,350 | $-205 (-8%) |
1-Bedroom rent in Petaluma — common questions
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in Petaluma?
As of October 2026, the median 1-bedroom apartment rent in Petaluma, California is $2,555 per month. This is +11% below the citywide median of $2,869.
What income do you need to afford a 1-bedroom in Petaluma?
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $102,200 ($8,517/month gross), which works out to roughly $49.13/hour at a full-time job.
Is Petaluma expensive for a 1-bedroom compared to the rest of the US?
Petaluma's 1-bedroom median of $2,555 is +83% above the national 1-bedroom median of $1,395. It ranks in the 95th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does Petaluma rank for 1-bedroom rent in California?
Among the 380 cities in California with 1-bedroom data, Petaluma ranks #278 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper 1-bedroom options near Petaluma?
Yes — nearby cities with cheaper 1-bedroom rents include Rohnert Park ($2,260), Sonoma ($2,050), Santa Rosa ($2,098).