Rents are 11% above what San Carlos's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.
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 $4,477 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: September 25, 2026
What the numbers show
December. Asking rents in San Carlos usually run 1.1% below trend in December and 1.3% above it in July, about $107 a month apart at today's median. Based on 7 years of data.
Rent in San Carlos is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in November 2018.
Rent in San Carlos changed +9.0% over the year to August 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.3%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in San Carlos rose 9.6% while median household income rose 30.4% ($182,083 to $237,470). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in San Carlos is 24.6% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 36.8% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 8 months in a row, and rose in 11 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($237,470) is $5,937 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($4,710).
Belmont, 2 miles away, rents for 18% less ($3,677/mo), about $9,600 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for San Carlos. 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.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
San Carlos, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 70.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How San Carlos, CA has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in San Carlos, CA has increased from $3,307 to $4,477, a 35.4% change over five years. Census figures show median household income at $237,470 today, compared with $204,570 five years earlier. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 3.7% since 2021, moving from about 30,754 residents to roughly 29,614. Renters now make up 32.2% of households, compared with 29.6% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 70.2% of adults here, versus 67.7% in 2021. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
Discussions about San Carlos
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in San Carlos on your salary?
At $4,477/mo, how San Carlos rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
San Carlos rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in San Carlos. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in San Carlos
Last updated: September 25, 2026
The median rent in San Carlos is $4,477/mo as of September 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,430/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,550/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,970/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $4,430/mo.
At 23% of local median household income ($237,470/yr), San Carlos ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 9.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in San Carlos?
Is rent going up or down in San Carlos?
When is the cheapest time to rent in San Carlos?
Has rent outpaced income in San Carlos?
How does San Carlos rent compare to other cities in California?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than San Carlos?
At $4,477/mo, rent takes ~23% of San Carlos's median household income ($237,470/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for San Carlos.
No discussions yet.