Studio Apartment Rent in Redwood City, CA
Median asking rent for a studio apartment in Redwood City, California as of August 2026. That's +37% lower than the citywide median of $4,077 and +98% above the national studio median of $1,290.
Income needed for a studio in Redwood City
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 studio at the current median rent.
Rent by apartment size in Redwood City
Compare Redwood City's median rent across every apartment size.
Cheapest cities for a studio in California
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florin | $738 |
| 2 | Ridgecrest | $864 |
| 3 | Taft | $870 |
| 4 | Lakeport | $890 |
| 5 | El Centro | $910 |
| 6 | Barstow | $915 |
| 7 | Red Bluff | $930 |
| 8 | California City | $940 |
| 9 | Clearlake | $950 |
| 10 | Paradise | $970 |
| 11 | Eureka | $980 |
| 12 | Oroville | $985 |
| 13 | Fortuna | $990 |
| 14 | Florence-Graham | $1,029 |
| 15 | Porterville | $1,050 |
Most expensive cities for a studio in California
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Cruz | $3,520 |
| 2 | Scotts Valley | $3,420 |
| 3 | Aptos | $3,420 |
| 4 | Cupertino | $3,410 |
| 5 | Coronado | $3,190 |
| 6 | Ladera Ranch | $3,140 |
| 7 | Los Altos | $3,130 |
| 8 | Foster City | $3,130 |
| 9 | Newport Beach | $3,102 |
| 10 | Capitola | $3,100 |
| 11 | Sunnyvale | $3,010 |
| 12 | Santa Barbara | $3,000 |
| 13 | Irvine | $3,000 |
| 14 | Solana Beach | $2,970 |
| 15 | Saratoga | $2,910 |
Nearby cities — studio rent
Considering nearby alternatives? 5 of these cities have cheaper studio rents than Redwood City.
| City | Distance | Studio rent | vs Redwood City |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Carlos, CA | 3.2 mi | $2,430 | $-130 (-5%) |
| Menlo Park, CA | 4.4 mi | $2,560 | — |
| Foster City, CA | 5 mi | $3,130 | +$570 (+22%) |
| Belmont, CA | 5.1 mi | $2,530 | $-30 (-1%) |
| Palo Alto, CA | 7.5 mi | $2,900 | +$340 (+13%) |
| San Mateo, CA | 7.5 mi | $2,537 | $-23 (-1%) |
| East Palo Alto, CA | 8.1 mi | $2,150 | $-410 (-16%) |
| Burlingame, CA | 10.1 mi | $2,409 | $-151 (-6%) |
| Los Altos, CA | 11.1 mi | $3,130 | +$570 (+22%) |
| Mountain View, CA | 12.5 mi | $2,890 | +$330 (+13%) |
| Half Moon Bay, CA | 12.9 mi | $2,070 | $-490 (-19%) |
| Newark, CA | 13.4 mi | $1,990 | $-570 (-22%) |
Studio rent in Redwood City — common questions
How much is a studio apartment in Redwood City?
As of August 2026, the median studio apartment rent in Redwood City, California is $2,560 per month. This is +37% below the citywide median of $4,077.
What income do you need to afford a studio in Redwood City?
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $102,400 ($8,533/month gross), which works out to roughly $49.23/hour at a full-time job.
Is Redwood City expensive for a studio compared to the rest of the US?
Redwood City's studio median of $2,560 is +98% above the national studio median of $1,290. It ranks in the 97th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does Redwood City rank for studio rent in California?
Among the 378 cities in California with studio data, Redwood City ranks #321 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper studio options near Redwood City?
Yes — nearby cities with cheaper studio rents include San Carlos ($2,430), Belmont ($2,530), San Mateo ($2,537).