Rents are 11% 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 $2,427 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
January. Asking rents in Riverside usually run 0.5% below trend in January and 0.5% above it in October, about $24 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Riverside is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Riverside changed +2.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Riverside rose 41.9% while median household income rose 31.9% ($69,045 to $91,045). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Riverside is 45.2% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 5 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($91,045) is $2,276 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($2,089); a 2-bedroom is $2,599.
The priciest of 7 ZIP codes in Riverside, 92506 ($2,945/mo), costs 26% more than the cheapest, 92505 ($2,342/mo).
Grand Terrace, 8 miles away, rents for 13% less ($2,100/mo), about $3,900 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Riverside. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. 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
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 $1,873 to $2,427, up 29.6% 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 $2,427/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: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Riverside is $2,427/mo as of October 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 2.5% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in Riverside?
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Has rent outpaced income in Riverside?
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How does Riverside rent compare to other cities in California?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Riverside?
At $2,427/mo, rent takes ~32% of Riverside's median household income ($91,045/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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