How much does it cost to rent in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA is $2,910. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Rancho Santa Margarita cheaper than other California cities?

Rancho Santa Margarita falls in the middle range for California, ranking #167 out of 387 cities at $2,910/mo.

When was Rancho Santa Margarita rent data last updated?

Rancho Santa Margarita rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · CA

Rancho Santa Margarita

Name: Average Rent Prices in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 46,990·167th most expensive in California·One of the pricier rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$2,910/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.0%

Month-over-Month

+1.4%

vs US Median

+$945

Rising (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss Rancho Santa Margarita rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

Rancho Santa Margarita · $2,910

More expensive than 89% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

56/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 3% below what Rancho Santa Margarita's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$2,910/mo

Expected by trend

$3,001/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,630

1 BR

$2,750

2 BR

$3,250

3 BR

$4,400

4 BR+

$5,250

Research median

$3,250/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$34,920/yr

At $2,910/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (1.0% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+1.0% YoY, +1.4% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 49.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

46,990

Median income

$152,560

Median age

40.9

Renters

27.5%

Age distribution

22.1%

18.8%

30.2%

16.9%

Under 1822.1%

18–3418.8%

35–5430.2%

55–6416.9%

65+12%

Gender

49.6%

50.4%

Male49.6%

Female50.4%

Race & ethnicity

61.7%

20.3%

12.6%

White61.7%

Black1.6%

Hispanic20.3%

Asian12.6%

Other3.8%

Education (25+)

13.3%

31.6%

49.7%

No HS diploma5.4%

HS diploma13.3%

Some college31.6%

Bachelor's+49.7%

Housing tenure

72.5%

27.5%

Owner72.5%

Renter27.5%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Rancho Santa Margarita, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,141 → $2,910

up 35.9%

Income

$135,350 → $152,560

up 12.7%

Population

48,190 → 46,990

down 2.5%

Renter share

27.9% → 27.5%

-0.4 pts

Bachelor's+

49.5% → 49.7%

+0.2 pts

Median age

39.7 → 40.9

+1.2 yrs

Compared with 2021, rent in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA has climbed by $769 per month, settling near $2,910 after starting the period at $2,141. Census figures show median household income at $152,560 today, compared with $135,350 five years earlier. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 23.2 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 48,190 to 46,990 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.5% change. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.

Community

Discussions about Rancho Santa Margarita

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

View Rancho Santa Margarita rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Rancho Santa Margarita on your salary?

At $2,910/mo, how Rancho Santa Margarita rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 31.3% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 44.1% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 38.3% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 21.4% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 16.8% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 47.1% income

rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 52.2% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 42.3% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Rancho Santa Margarita rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Rancho Santa Margarita. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Rancho Santa Margarita

About renting in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Rancho Santa Margarita is $2,910/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,630/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,250/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,750/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $4,400/mo.

At 23% of local median household income ($152,560/yr), Rancho Santa Margarita ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Rancho Santa Margarita an affordable city for renters?

Rancho Santa Margarita is considered very affordable for renters. At $2,910/mo, rent takes approximately 23% of the local median household income ($152,560/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Rancho Santa Margarita falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Rancho Santa Margarita?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $116,000/year (~$56/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,910/mo in Rancho Santa Margarita. The local median household income is $152,560/yr, meaning the typical Rancho Santa Margarita household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Rancho Santa Margarita?

Rent in Rancho Santa Margarita has increased 1.0% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Rancho Santa Margarita rent compare to other cities in California?

Rancho Santa Margarita is middle-of-the-pack for California for rent, ranking #167 out of 387 tracked cities at $2,910/mo.

What percentage of Rancho Santa Margarita residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 27.5% of Rancho Santa Margarita households are renters, while 72.5% are owner-occupied. Rancho Santa Margarita leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Rancho Santa Margarita rent compare to the national average?

Rancho Santa Margarita's median rent of $2,910/mo is $945 (48%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within California, it ranks #167 out of 387 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

23%

VERY AFFORDABLE

At $2,910/mo, rent takes ~23% of Rancho Santa Margarita's median household income ($152,560/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Rancho Santa Margarita 23%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the Rancho Santa Margarita affordability calculator →

Nearby cities