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

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in San Juan Capistrano, CA is $3,994. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is San Juan Capistrano cheaper than other California cities?

San Juan Capistrano is one of the pricier cities in California, ranking #44 out of 387 cities tracked at $3,994/mo.

When was San Juan Capistrano rent data last updated?

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

City Report · CA

San Juan Capistrano

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

Pop. 35,095·44th most expensive in California·One of the pricier rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$3,994/mo

Year-over-Year

-1.2%

Month-over-Month

+4.0%

vs US Median

+$2,029

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

San Juan Capistrano · $3,994

More expensive than 98% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

53/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are right about where San Juan Capistrano's 10-year trend predicts.

Actual rent

$3,994/mo

Expected by trend

$4,064/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,470

1 BR

$2,580

2 BR

$3,050

3 BR

$4,130

4 BR+

$4,930

Research median

$3,050/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

$47,928/yr

At $3,994/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 1.2% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (-1.2% YoY, +4.0% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

San Juan Capistrano, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 43.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

35,095

Median income

$129,457

Median age

46.2

Renters

19%

Age distribution

21.1%

18.4%

23.6%

15.4%

21.5%

Under 1821.1%

18–3418.4%

35–5423.6%

55–6415.4%

65+21.5%

Gender

49.7%

50.3%

Male49.7%

Female50.3%

Race & ethnicity

61.3%

34.6%

White61.3%

Hispanic34.6%

Asian4.5%

Education (25+)

16%

30.3%

43.4%

No HS diploma10.3%

HS diploma16%

Some college30.3%

Bachelor's+43.4%

Housing tenure

81%

19%

Owner81%

Renter19%

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

2022 vs 2026

How San Juan Capistrano, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$3,542 → $3,994

up 12.8%

Income

$111,875 → $129,457

up 15.7%

Population

35,319 → 35,095

down 0.6%

Renter share

25.8% → 19%

-6.8 pts

Bachelor's+

39.8% → 43.4%

+3.6 pts

Median age

44.8 → 46.2

+1.4 yrs

Compared with 2022, rent in San Juan Capistrano, CA has climbed by $452 per month, settling near $3,994 after starting the period at $3,542. Household income in the area moved from $111,875 to $129,457 across the same window, up 15.7% versus 2021. About 19% of households rent today, against 25.8% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 39.8% to 43.4%. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in San Juan Capistrano, CA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

Discussions about San Juan Capistrano

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View San Juan Capistrano rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in San Juan Capistrano on your salary?

At $3,994/mo, how San Juan Capistrano rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 43% income

rent-burdened

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 60.6% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 52.6% income

severely rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 29.4% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 23% income

affordable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 64.7% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 71.6% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 58.1% income

severely rent-burdened

By apartment size

San Juan Capistrano rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in San Juan Capistrano

About renting in San Juan Capistrano, CA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in San Juan Capistrano is $3,994/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,470/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,050/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,580/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $4,130/mo.

At 37% of local median household income ($129,457/yr), San Juan Capistrano ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 1.2% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is San Juan Capistrano an affordable city for renters?

San Juan Capistrano is considered moderate for renters. At $3,994/mo, rent takes approximately 37% of the local median household income ($129,457/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. San Juan Capistrano slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in San Juan Capistrano?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $160,000/year (~$77/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,994/mo in San Juan Capistrano. The local median household income is $129,457/yr, meaning the typical San Juan Capistrano household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in San Juan Capistrano?

Rent in San Juan Capistrano has decreased 1.2% over the past year as of July 2026, offering some relief compared to 12 months ago.

How does San Juan Capistrano rent compare to other cities in California?

San Juan Capistrano is one of the pricier cities in California for rent, ranking #44 out of 387 tracked cities at $3,994/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than San Juan Capistrano?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than San Juan Capistrano ($3,994/mo): Laguna Niguel ($3,289/mo), San Clemente ($3,442/mo), Ladera Ranch ($3,769/mo).

What percentage of San Juan Capistrano residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 19% of San Juan Capistrano households are renters, while 81% are owner-occupied. San Juan Capistrano leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does San Juan Capistrano rent compare to the national average?

San Juan Capistrano's median rent of $3,994/mo is $2,029 (103%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within California, it ranks #44 out of 387 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

37%

MODERATE

At $3,994/mo, rent takes ~37% of San Juan Capistrano's median household income ($129,457/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

San Juan Capistrano 37%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the San Juan Capistrano affordability calculator →

Nearby cities