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

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in San Diego, CA is $3,038. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is San Diego cheaper than other California cities?

San Diego falls in the middle range for California, ranking #144 out of 387 cities at $3,038/mo.

When was San Diego rent data last updated?

San Diego rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

Samuel Ramos / Unsplash

City Report · CA

San Diego

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

Pop. 1,389,526·144th most expensive in California·San Diego rents are up 6.6% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$3,038/mo

Year-over-Year

+6.6%

Month-over-Month

+1.7%

vs US Median

+$1,073

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

San Diego · $3,038

More expensive than 91% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

62/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 6% below what San Diego's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$3,038/mo

Expected by trend

$3,225/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,363

1 BR

$2,565

2 BR

$3,174

3 BR

$4,244

4 BR+

$5,167

Research median

$3,174/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

$36,456/yr

At $3,038/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 6.6% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+6.6% YoY, +1.7% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

San Diego, CA is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income above the national average, 51% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

1,389,526

Median income

$108,077

Median age

36.2

Renters

52.7%

Age distribution

18.4%

29.5%

26.7%

14.6%

Under 1818.4%

18–3429.5%

35–5426.7%

55–6410.7%

65+14.6%

Gender

50.7%

49.3%

Male50.7%

Female49.3%

Race & ethnicity

46.6%

29.8%

17.6%

White46.6%

Black5.6%

Hispanic29.8%

Asian17.6%

Education (25+)

14.8%

24.4%

51%

No HS diploma9.8%

HS diploma14.8%

Some college24.4%

Bachelor's+51%

Housing tenure

47.3%

52.7%

Owner47.3%

Renter52.7%

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

2021 vs 2026

How San Diego, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,197 → $3,038

up 38.3%

Income

$89,457 → $108,077

up 20.8%

Population

1,385,398 → 1,389,526

up 0.3%

Renter share

52.3% → 52.7%

+0.4 pts

Bachelor's+

47.6% → 51%

+3.4 pts

Median age

35.4 → 36.2

+0.8 yrs

Five years ago, renters in San Diego, CA paid around $2,197 a month. That figure now sits near $3,038, up 38.3% from the 2021 baseline. Median household income climbed from $89,457 to $108,077 between 2021 and 2024, a 20.8% shift. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 47.6% to 51% across the same window. Taken together, the five-year picture in San Diego, CA reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

Community

Discussions about San Diego

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View San Diego rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in San Diego on your salary?

At $3,038/mo, how San Diego rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 32.7% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 46.1% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 40% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 22.4% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 17.5% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 49.2% income

rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 54.5% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 44.2% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

San Diego rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in San Diego

About renting in San Diego, CA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in San Diego is $3,038/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,363/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,174/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,565/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $4,244/mo.

At 34% of local median household income ($108,077/yr), San Diego ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.6% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is San Diego an affordable city for renters?

San Diego is considered moderate for renters. At $3,038/mo, rent takes approximately 34% of the local median household income ($108,077/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. San Diego slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

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

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $122,000/year (~$59/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,038/mo in San Diego. The local median household income is $108,077/yr, meaning the typical San Diego household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in San Diego?

Rent in San Diego has increased 6.6% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which San Diego neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in San Diego are 92105 ($2,147/mo), 92102 ($2,345/mo), and 92113 ($2,401/mo). Citywide, the median rent in San Diego is $3,038/mo.

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

San Diego is middle-of-the-pack for California for rent, ranking #144 out of 387 tracked cities at $3,038/mo.

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

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than San Diego ($3,038/mo): National City ($2,472/mo), Lemon Grove ($2,618/mo), Imperial Beach ($3,011/mo).

What percentage of San Diego residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 52.7% of San Diego households are renters, while 47.3% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, San Diego has a strong rental market.

How does San Diego rent compare to the national average?

San Diego's median rent of $3,038/mo is $1,073 (55%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within California, it ranks #144 out of 387 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

34%

MODERATE

At $3,038/mo, rent takes ~34% of San Diego's median household income ($108,077/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

San Diego 34%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the San Diego affordability calculator →

Nearby cities