Rents are 8% below what Riverside's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
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 $2,441 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: August 17, 2026
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Who lives here
Riverside, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 25.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Riverside, CA has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in Riverside, CA has shifted from $1,809 to $2,441, up 34.9% since 2021. Household income in the area moved from $76,755 to $91,045 across the same window, up 18.6% versus 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Riverside, CA adding about 4,211 residents over the five-year window, up 1.3% on net. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Riverside, CA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
Discussions about Riverside
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Can you afford rent in Riverside on your salary?
At $2,441/mo, how Riverside rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Riverside rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Riverside. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Riverside
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Riverside is $2,441/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,001/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,599/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,089/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,469/mo.
At 32% of local median household income ($91,045/yr), Riverside ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.6% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
Is Riverside an affordable city for renters?
How much income do you need to rent in Riverside?
Is rent going up or down in Riverside?
Which Riverside neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Riverside rent compare to other cities in California?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Riverside?
What percentage of Riverside residents rent vs. own?
How does Riverside rent compare to the national average?
At $2,441/mo, rent takes ~32% of Riverside's median household income ($91,045/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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