Studio Apartment Rent in Santa Ana, CA
Median asking rent for a studio apartment in Santa Ana, California as of July 2026. That's +28% lower than the citywide median of $2,785 and +54% above the national studio median of $1,295.
Income needed for a studio 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 studio 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 studio in California
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florin | $738 |
| 2 | Ridgecrest | $838 |
| 3 | Taft | $870 |
| 4 | Lakeport | $890 |
| 5 | El Centro | $910 |
| 6 | Barstow | $920 |
| 7 | Red Bluff | $930 |
| 8 | California City | $940 |
| 9 | Clearlake | $950 |
| 10 | Paradise | $970 |
| 11 | Eureka | $980 |
| 12 | Oroville | $985 |
| 13 | Florence-Graham | $1,029 |
| 14 | Porterville | $1,050 |
| 15 | Anderson | $1,060 |
Most expensive cities for a studio in California
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Cruz | $3,520 |
| 2 | Scotts Valley | $3,420 |
| 3 | Aptos | $3,420 |
| 4 | Cupertino | $3,410 |
| 5 | Coronado | $3,190 |
| 6 | Ladera Ranch | $3,140 |
| 7 | Los Altos | $3,130 |
| 8 | Foster City | $3,130 |
| 9 | Newport Beach | $3,102 |
| 10 | Capitola | $3,100 |
| 11 | Coto de Caza | $3,070 |
| 12 | Sunnyvale | $3,010 |
| 13 | Santa Barbara | $3,000 |
| 14 | Irvine | $3,000 |
| 15 | Solana Beach | $2,970 |
Nearby cities — studio rent
Considering nearby alternatives? 2 of these cities have cheaper studio rents than Santa Ana.
| City | Distance | Studio rent | vs Santa Ana |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orange, CA | 5.2 mi | $2,228 | +$228 (+11%) |
| Tustin, CA | 5.3 mi | $2,490 | +$490 (+25%) |
| Fountain Valley, CA | 5.3 mi | $2,520 | +$520 (+26%) |
| Anaheim, CA | 6.8 mi | $2,280 | +$280 (+14%) |
| Irvine, CA | 7.3 mi | $3,000 | +$1,000 (+50%) |
| Westminster, CA | 8 mi | $1,980 | $-20 (-1%) |
| Newport Beach, CA | 8.6 mi | $3,102 | +$1,102 (+55%) |
| Stanton, CA | 9.2 mi | $1,980 | $-20 (-1%) |
| Huntington Beach, CA | 9.5 mi | $2,373 | +$373 (+19%) |
| Placentia, CA | 10.1 mi | $2,120 | +$120 (+6%) |
| Fullerton, CA | 10.6 mi | $2,125 | +$125 (+6%) |
| Buena Park, CA | 12.1 mi | $2,150 | +$150 (+8%) |
Studio rent in Santa Ana — common questions
How much is a studio apartment in Santa Ana?
As of July 2026, the median studio apartment rent in Santa Ana, California is $2,000 per month. This is +28% below the citywide median of $2,785.
What income do you need to afford a studio in Santa Ana?
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $80,000 ($6,667/month gross), which works out to roughly $38.46/hour at a full-time job.
Is Santa Ana expensive for a studio compared to the rest of the US?
Santa Ana's studio median of $2,000 is +54% above the national studio median of $1,295. It ranks in the 87th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does Santa Ana rank for studio rent in California?
Among the 383 cities in California with studio data, Santa Ana ranks #195 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper studio options near Santa Ana?
Yes — nearby cities with cheaper studio rents include Westminster ($1,980), Stanton ($1,980).