Rents are right about where San Rafael's 10-year trend predicts.
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 $3,166 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 Rafael usually run 1.4% below trend in January and 1.4% above it in August, about $89 a month apart at today's median. Based on 8 years of data.
Rent in San Rafael is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2016.
Rent in San Rafael changed +4.0% 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 Rafael rose 16.3% while median household income rose 30.2% ($91,742 to $119,435). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in San Rafael is 22.3% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($119,435) is $2,986 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($2,855); a 2-bedroom is $3,405.
San Pablo, 10 miles away, rents for 25% less ($2,375/mo), about $9,500 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for San Rafael. 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 Rafael, CA is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 49.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How San Rafael, CA has changed in 5 years
Rent in San Rafael, CA has climbed 24.3% since 2021, going from about $2,547 per month to roughly $3,166 today. Census figures show median household income at $119,435 today, compared with $104,521 five years earlier. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 10.0 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 61,158 to 60,433 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.2% change. About 47% of households rent today, against 49.5% in 2021. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
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Can you afford rent in San Rafael on your salary?
At $3,166/mo, how San Rafael rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
San Rafael rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in San Rafael. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in San Rafael
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in San Rafael is $3,166/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,330/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,405/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,855/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $4,210/mo.
At 32% of local median household income ($119,435/yr), San Rafael ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in San Rafael?
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How does San Rafael rent compare to other cities in California?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than San Rafael?
At $3,166/mo, rent takes ~32% of San Rafael's median household income ($119,435/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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