At $3,242/mo, rent takes about 33% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.
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 $3,242 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 rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($118,072) is $2,952 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,920); a 3-bedroom is $3,900.
Grover Beach, 4 miles away, rents for 18% less ($2,672/mo), about $6,800 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Pismo Beach. 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
Pismo Beach, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 51.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Pismo Beach, CA has changed in 5 years
Census figures show median household income at $118,072 today, compared with $94,268 five years earlier. The renter share has risen from 30.3% to 35.4%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 48.4% to 51.7% across the same window.
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Can you afford rent in Pismo Beach on your salary?
At $3,242/mo, how Pismo Beach rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Pismo Beach rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Pismo Beach. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Pismo Beach
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Pismo Beach is $3,242/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,000/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,920/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,230/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,900/mo.
At 33% of local median household income ($118,072/yr), Pismo Beach ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in Pismo Beach?
How does Pismo Beach rent compare to other cities in California?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Pismo Beach?
At $3,242/mo, rent takes ~33% of Pismo Beach's median household income ($118,072/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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