How much does it cost to rent in San Bernardino, CA?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in San Bernardino, CA is $1,994. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is San Bernardino cheaper than other California cities?

San Bernardino is among the more affordable cities in California, ranking #341 out of 387 cities at $1,994/mo.

When was San Bernardino rent data last updated?

San Bernardino 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

San Bernardino

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

Pop. 222,724·341st most expensive in California·Rental market data updated monthly for San Bernardino, CA

Median rent (all units)

$1,994/mo

Year-over-Year

+5.0%

Month-over-Month

-0.6%

vs US Median

+$29

Falling (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss San Bernardino rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

San Bernardino · $1,994

More expensive than 59% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

69/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 10% below what San Bernardino's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$1,994/mo

Expected by trend

$2,206/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,532

1 BR

$1,598

2 BR

$1,988

3 BR

$2,652

4 BR+

$3,228

Research median

$1,988/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

$23,928/yr

At $1,994/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (5.0% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+5.0% YoY, -0.6% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

San Bernardino, CA is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large share of families with children, 13.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

222,724

Median income

$67,415

Median age

32.2

Renters

50%

Age distribution

26.7%

27.9%

25%

Under 1826.7%

18–3427.9%

35–5425%

55–649.6%

65+10.8%

Gender

50%

Male50%

Female50%

Race & ethnicity

20.3%

70.2%

White20.3%

Black11.2%

Hispanic70.2%

Asian3.8%

Education (25+)

25.8%

35.5%

25.5%

13.1%

No HS diploma25.8%

HS diploma35.5%

Some college25.5%

Bachelor's+13.1%

Housing tenure

50%

Owner50%

Renter50%

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

2021 vs 2026

How San Bernardino, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,392 → $1,994

up 43.2%

Income

$55,372 → $67,415

up 21.7%

Population

220,821 → 222,724

up 0.9%

Renter share

51.2% → 50%

-1.2 pts

Bachelor's+

12.7% → 13.1%

+0.4 pts

Median age

31.3 → 32.2

+0.9 yrs

Five years ago, renters in San Bernardino, CA paid around $1,392 a month. That figure now sits near $1,994, up 43.2% from the 2021 baseline. Household income in the area moved from $55,372 to $67,415 across the same window, up 21.7% versus 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in San Bernardino, CA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

Discussions about San Bernardino

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

View San Bernardino rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in San Bernardino on your salary?

At $1,994/mo, how San Bernardino rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 21.5% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 30.2% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 26.2% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 14.7% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 11.5% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 32.3% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 35.8% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 29% income

affordable

By apartment size

San Bernardino rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in San Bernardino. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in San Bernardino

About renting in San Bernardino, CA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in San Bernardino is $1,994/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,532/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,988/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,598/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,652/mo.

At 35% of local median household income ($67,415/yr), San Bernardino ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is San Bernardino an affordable city for renters?

San Bernardino is considered moderate for renters. At $1,994/mo, rent takes approximately 35% of the local median household income ($67,415/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. San Bernardino slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in San Bernardino?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $80,000/year (~$38/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,994/mo in San Bernardino. The local median household income is $67,415/yr, meaning the typical San Bernardino household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in San Bernardino?

Rent in San Bernardino has increased 5.0% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which San Bernardino neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in San Bernardino are 92410 ($1,815/mo), 92404 ($1,859/mo), and 92405 ($1,982/mo). Citywide, the median rent in San Bernardino is $1,994/mo.

How does San Bernardino rent compare to other cities in California?

San Bernardino is one of the more affordable cities in California for rent, ranking #341 out of 387 tracked cities at $1,994/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than San Bernardino?

Colton is nearby and more affordable at $1,929/mo, which is $65 less than San Bernardino.

What percentage of San Bernardino residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 50% of San Bernardino households are renters, while 50% are owner-occupied. San Bernardino leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does San Bernardino rent compare to the national average?

San Bernardino's median rent of $1,994/mo is $29 (1%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within California, it ranks #341 out of 387 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

35%

MODERATE

At $1,994/mo, rent takes ~35% of San Bernardino's median household income ($67,415/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

San Bernardino 35%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the San Bernardino affordability calculator →

Nearby cities