Rents are 3% below what San Clemente'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 $3,411 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 Clemente usually run 0.7% below trend in January and 1% above it in July, about $58 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in San Clemente is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in San Clemente changed +5.0% 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 Clemente rose 45.1% while median household income rose 26.8% ($110,434 to $140,062). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in San Clemente is 56% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 7 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($140,062) is $3,502 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($3,460); a 3-bedroom is $4,680.
Laguna Hills, 11 miles away, rents for 11% less ($3,029/mo), about $4,600 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for San Clemente. 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 Clemente, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 53.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How San Clemente, CA has changed in 5 years
The median rent in San Clemente, CA stood at $2,348 in 2021 and currently runs about $3,411, reflecting a 45.3% increase over the period. On the earnings side, the typical household in San Clemente, CA now reports about $140,062, up from $123,090 in 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 2.1% since 2021, moving from about 64,600 residents to roughly 63,273. College-educated residents now make up 53.8% of adults here, versus 51.1% in 2021. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and San Clemente, CA reflects that arc in its own way.
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Can you afford rent in San Clemente on your salary?
At $3,411/mo, how San Clemente rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
San Clemente rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in San Clemente. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in San Clemente
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in San Clemente is $3,411/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,790/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,460/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,920/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $4,680/mo.
At 29% of local median household income ($140,062/yr), San Clemente ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does San Clemente rent compare to other cities in California?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than San Clemente?
At $3,411/mo, rent takes ~29% of San Clemente's median household income ($140,062/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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