Rents are 7% above what San Juan Capistrano'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 $4,164 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
Rent in San Juan Capistrano is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in February 2022.
Rent in San Juan Capistrano changed +8.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
Rent has risen 5 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($129,457) is $3,236 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($3,050); a 3-bedroom is $4,130.
Ladera Ranch, 3 miles away, rents for 15% less ($3,550/mo), about $7,400 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for San Juan Capistrano. 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 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.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How San Juan Capistrano, CA has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2022, rent in San Juan Capistrano, CA has climbed by $730 per month, settling near $4,164 after starting the period at $3,434. Household income in the area moved from $111,875 to $129,457 across the same window, up 15.7% versus 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 5.6 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 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.
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Can you afford rent in San Juan Capistrano on your salary?
At $4,164/mo, how San Juan Capistrano rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
San Juan Capistrano rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in San Juan Capistrano. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in San Juan Capistrano
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in San Juan Capistrano is $4,164/mo as of October 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 39% of local median household income ($129,457/yr), San Juan Capistrano ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 8.6% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in San Juan Capistrano?
Is rent going up or down in San Juan Capistrano?
How does San Juan Capistrano rent compare to other cities in California?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than San Juan Capistrano?
At $4,164/mo, rent takes ~39% of San Juan Capistrano's median household income ($129,457/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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