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 $3,100 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: August 17, 2026
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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 22.8% since 2021, going from about $2,525 per month to roughly $3,100 today. Census figures show median household income at $119,435 today, compared with $104,521 five years earlier. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 8.5 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.
Discussions about San Rafael
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Can you afford rent in San Rafael on your salary?
At $3,100/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: August 17, 2026
The median rent in San Rafael is $3,100/mo as of August 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 31% of local median household income ($119,435/yr), San Rafael ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.7% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
Is San Rafael an affordable city for renters?
How much income do you need to rent in San Rafael?
Is rent going up or down in San Rafael?
Which San Rafael neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does San Rafael rent compare to other cities in California?
What percentage of San Rafael residents rent vs. own?
How does San Rafael rent compare to the national average?
At $3,100/mo, rent takes ~31% of San Rafael's median household income ($119,435/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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