1-Bedroom Apartment Rent in Santa Ana, CA
Median asking rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Santa Ana, California as of July 2026. That's +24% lower than the citywide median of $2,785 and +52% above the national 1-bedroom median of $1,395.
Income needed for a 1-bedroom in Santa Ana
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline (the threshold above which households are considered rent-burdened), here's what you need to earn to comfortably afford a 1-bedroom at the current median rent.
Rent by apartment size in Santa Ana
Compare Santa Ana's median rent across every apartment size.
Cheapest cities for a 1-bedroom in California
| # | City | 1-Bedroom rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taft | $880 |
| 2 | Ridgecrest | $887 |
| 3 | Lakeport | $900 |
| 4 | California City | $950 |
| 5 | Clearlake | $950 |
| 6 | Barstow | $974 |
| 7 | Oroville | $1,005 |
| 8 | El Centro | $1,020 |
| 9 | Paradise | $1,020 |
| 10 | Red Bluff | $1,030 |
| 11 | Eureka | $1,040 |
| 12 | Porterville | $1,060 |
| 13 | Shafter | $1,060 |
| 14 | Tehachapi | $1,110 |
| 15 | Hanford | $1,120 |
Most expensive cities for a 1-bedroom in California
| # | City | 1-Bedroom rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cupertino | $3,880 |
| 2 | Foster City | $3,820 |
| 3 | Santa Cruz | $3,710 |
| 4 | Scotts Valley | $3,600 |
| 5 | Aptos | $3,600 |
| 6 | Tiburon | $3,530 |
| 7 | Los Altos | $3,530 |
| 8 | Coronado | $3,460 |
| 9 | Sunnyvale | $3,438 |
| 10 | Millbrae | $3,410 |
| 11 | Corte Madera | $3,390 |
| 12 | Santa Barbara | $3,382 |
| 13 | Palo Alto | $3,305 |
| 14 | Mountain View | $3,303 |
| 15 | Ladera Ranch | $3,280 |
Nearby cities — 1-bedroom rent
Considering nearby alternatives? 2 of these cities have cheaper 1-bedroom rents than Santa Ana.
| City | Distance | 1-Bedroom rent | vs Santa Ana |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orange, CA | 5.2 mi | $2,332 | +$214 (+10%) |
| Tustin, CA | 5.3 mi | $2,600 | +$482 (+23%) |
| Fountain Valley, CA | 5.3 mi | $2,630 | +$512 (+24%) |
| Anaheim, CA | 6.8 mi | $2,377 | +$259 (+12%) |
| Irvine, CA | 7.3 mi | $3,131 | +$1,013 (+48%) |
| Westminster, CA | 8 mi | $2,110 | $-8 (0%) |
| Newport Beach, CA | 8.6 mi | $3,236 | +$1,118 (+53%) |
| Stanton, CA | 9.2 mi | $2,110 | $-8 (0%) |
| Huntington Beach, CA | 9.5 mi | $2,475 | +$357 (+17%) |
| Placentia, CA | 10.1 mi | $2,220 | +$102 (+5%) |
| Fullerton, CA | 10.6 mi | $2,228 | +$110 (+5%) |
| Buena Park, CA | 12.1 mi | $2,265 | +$147 (+7%) |
1-Bedroom rent in Santa Ana — common questions
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in Santa Ana?
As of July 2026, the median 1-bedroom apartment rent in Santa Ana, California is $2,118 per month. This is +24% below the citywide median of $2,785.
What income do you need to afford a 1-bedroom in Santa Ana?
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $84,720 ($7,060/month gross), which works out to roughly $40.73/hour at a full-time job.
Is Santa Ana expensive for a 1-bedroom compared to the rest of the US?
Santa Ana's 1-bedroom median of $2,118 is +52% above the national 1-bedroom median of $1,395. It ranks in the 86th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does Santa Ana rank for 1-bedroom rent in California?
Among the 385 cities in California with 1-bedroom data, Santa Ana ranks #180 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper 1-bedroom options near Santa Ana?
Yes — nearby cities with cheaper 1-bedroom rents include Westminster ($2,110), Stanton ($2,110).