Rents are right about where San Ramon'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 $3,121 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
December. Asking rents in San Ramon usually run 1.2% below trend in December and 1.2% above it in June, about $75 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in San Ramon is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in San Ramon changed +6.4% 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 Ramon rose 16% while median household income rose 22% ($160,783 to $196,161). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in San Ramon is 23.4% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 11 months in a row, and rose in 11 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($196,161) is $4,904 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($4,260); a 4-bedroom is $5,060.
Hayward, 11 miles away, rents for 15% less ($2,652/mo), about $5,600 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for San Ramon. 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.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
San Ramon, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 71.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How San Ramon, CA has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in San Ramon, CA has shifted from $2,583 to $3,121, up 20.8% since 2021. Household income in the area moved from $173,519 to $196,161 across the same window, up 13.0% versus 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in San Ramon, CA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
Discussions about San Ramon
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in San Ramon on your salary?
At $3,121/mo, how San Ramon rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
San Ramon rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in San Ramon. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in San Ramon
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in San Ramon is $3,121/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,405/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,330/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,735/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $4,260/mo.
At 19% of local median household income ($196,161/yr), San Ramon ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in San Ramon?
Is rent going up or down in San Ramon?
When is the cheapest time to rent in San Ramon?
Has rent outpaced income in San Ramon?
Which San Ramon neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does San Ramon rent compare to other cities in California?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than San Ramon?
At $3,121/mo, rent takes ~19% of San Ramon's median household income ($196,161/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for San Ramon.
No discussions yet.