Rents are 11% below what San Bernardino'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 $1,971 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 San Bernardino usually run 0.5% below trend in January and 0.5% above it in June, about $20 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in San Bernardino is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in San Bernardino changed +3.1% 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 San Bernardino rose 55.6% while median household income rose 47.1% ($45,834 to $67,415). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in San Bernardino is 60% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($67,415) is $1,685 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,598); a 2-bedroom is $1,988.
The priciest of 4 ZIP codes in San Bernardino, 92407 ($2,125/mo), costs 19% more than the cheapest, 92404 ($1,791/mo).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for San Bernardino. 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
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.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How San Bernardino, CA has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in San Bernardino, CA paid around $1,405 a month. That figure now sits near $1,971, up 40.3% 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.
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Can you afford rent in San Bernardino on your salary?
At $1,971/mo, how San Bernardino rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
San Bernardino rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in San Bernardino. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in San Bernardino
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in San Bernardino is $1,971/mo as of October 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 3.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does San Bernardino rent compare to other cities in California?
At $1,971/mo, rent takes ~35% of San Bernardino's median household income ($67,415/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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