Studio Apartment Rent in San Diego, CA
Median asking rent for a studio apartment in San Diego, California as of July 2026. That's +22% lower than the citywide median of $3,038 and +82% above the national studio median of $1,295.
Income needed for a studio in San Diego
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline (the threshold above which households are considered rent-burdened), here's what you need to earn to comfortably afford a studio at the current median rent.
Rent by apartment size in San Diego
Compare San Diego's median rent across every apartment size.
Cheapest cities for a studio in California
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florin | $738 |
| 2 | Ridgecrest | $838 |
| 3 | Taft | $870 |
| 4 | Lakeport | $890 |
| 5 | El Centro | $910 |
| 6 | Barstow | $920 |
| 7 | Red Bluff | $930 |
| 8 | California City | $940 |
| 9 | Clearlake | $950 |
| 10 | Paradise | $970 |
| 11 | Eureka | $980 |
| 12 | Oroville | $985 |
| 13 | Florence-Graham | $1,029 |
| 14 | Porterville | $1,050 |
| 15 | Anderson | $1,060 |
Most expensive cities for a studio in California
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Cruz | $3,520 |
| 2 | Scotts Valley | $3,420 |
| 3 | Aptos | $3,420 |
| 4 | Cupertino | $3,410 |
| 5 | Coronado | $3,190 |
| 6 | Ladera Ranch | $3,140 |
| 7 | Los Altos | $3,130 |
| 8 | Foster City | $3,130 |
| 9 | Newport Beach | $3,102 |
| 10 | Capitola | $3,100 |
| 11 | Coto de Caza | $3,070 |
| 12 | Sunnyvale | $3,010 |
| 13 | Santa Barbara | $3,000 |
| 14 | Irvine | $3,000 |
| 15 | Solana Beach | $2,970 |
Nearby cities — studio rent
Considering nearby alternatives? 5 of these cities have cheaper studio rents than San Diego.
| City | Distance | Studio rent | vs San Diego |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coronado, CA | 3.5 mi | $3,190 | +$827 (+35%) |
| National City, CA | 5.5 mi | $1,600 | $-763 (-32%) |
| Lemon Grove, CA | 8.8 mi | $1,760 | $-603 (-26%) |
| Imperial Beach, CA | 10.2 mi | $1,910 | $-453 (-19%) |
| Bonita, CA | 10.4 mi | $2,260 | $-103 (-4%) |
| La Mesa, CA | 11.1 mi | $1,995 | $-368 (-16%) |
| Spring Valley, CA | 11.5 mi | $1,760 | $-603 (-26%) |
| Chula Vista, CA | 12.6 mi | $2,626 | +$263 (+11%) |
| Santee, CA | 15.2 mi | $2,010 | $-353 (-15%) |
| El Cajon, CA | 18.6 mi | $1,923 | $-440 (-19%) |
| Solana Beach, CA | 20.6 mi | $2,970 | +$607 (+26%) |
| Poway, CA | 20.9 mi | $2,150 | $-213 (-9%) |
Studio rent in San Diego — common questions
How much is a studio apartment in San Diego?
As of July 2026, the median studio apartment rent in San Diego, California is $2,363 per month. This is +22% below the citywide median of $3,038.
What income do you need to afford a studio in San Diego?
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $94,520 ($7,877/month gross), which works out to roughly $45.44/hour at a full-time job.
Is San Diego expensive for a studio compared to the rest of the US?
San Diego's studio median of $2,363 is +82% above the national studio median of $1,295. It ranks in the 95th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does San Diego rank for studio rent in California?
Among the 383 cities in California with studio data, San Diego ranks #291 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper studio options near San Diego?
Yes — nearby cities with cheaper studio rents include National City ($1,600), Lemon Grove ($1,760), Imperial Beach ($1,910).