1-Bedroom Apartment Rent in Santa Clara, CA
Median asking rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Santa Clara, California as of July 2026. That's +19% lower than the citywide median of $3,890 and +127% above the national 1-bedroom median of $1,395.
Income needed for a 1-bedroom in Santa Clara
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 Clara
Compare Santa Clara'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? 5 of these cities have cheaper 1-bedroom rents than Santa Clara.
| City | Distance | 1-Bedroom rent | vs Santa Clara |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunnyvale, CA | 4 mi | $3,438 | +$278 (+9%) |
| Campbell, CA | 5.9 mi | $2,900 | $-260 (-8%) |
| Mountain View, CA | 7.9 mi | $3,303 | +$143 (+5%) |
| Milpitas, CA | 8.7 mi | $3,020 | $-140 (-4%) |
| Cupertino, CA | 8.8 mi | $3,880 | +$720 (+23%) |
| Saratoga, CA | 9 mi | $3,270 | +$110 (+3%) |
| Los Gatos, CA | 10 mi | $3,105 | $-55 (-2%) |
| Newark, CA | 10.7 mi | $2,270 | $-890 (-28%) |
| Fremont, CA | 11.8 mi | $2,760 | $-400 (-13%) |
| East Palo Alto, CA | 12.1 mi | $2,550 | $-610 (-19%) |
| Los Altos, CA | 12.2 mi | $3,530 | +$370 (+12%) |
| Palo Alto, CA | 12.8 mi | $3,305 | +$145 (+5%) |
1-Bedroom rent in Santa Clara — common questions
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in Santa Clara?
As of July 2026, the median 1-bedroom apartment rent in Santa Clara, California is $3,160 per month. This is +19% below the citywide median of $3,890.
What income do you need to afford a 1-bedroom in Santa Clara?
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $126,400 ($10,533/month gross), which works out to roughly $60.77/hour at a full-time job.
Is Santa Clara expensive for a 1-bedroom compared to the rest of the US?
Santa Clara's 1-bedroom median of $3,160 is +127% above the national 1-bedroom median of $1,395. It ranks in the 99th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does Santa Clara rank for 1-bedroom rent in California?
Among the 385 cities in California with 1-bedroom data, Santa Clara ranks #365 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper 1-bedroom options near Santa Clara?
Yes — nearby cities with cheaper 1-bedroom rents include Campbell ($2,900), Milpitas ($3,020), Los Gatos ($3,105).