3-Bedroom Apartment Rent in Santa Clara, CA
Median asking rent for a 3-bedroom apartment in Santa Clara, California as of July 2026. That's +22% higher than the citywide median of $3,890 and +123% above the national 3-bedroom median of $2,130.
Income needed for a 3-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 3-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 3-bedroom in California
| # | City | 3-Bedroom rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ridgecrest | $1,492 |
| 2 | Taft | $1,600 |
| 3 | Barstow | $1,639 |
| 4 | Lakeport | $1,650 |
| 5 | Westmont | $1,663 |
| 6 | California City | $1,720 |
| 7 | Clearlake | $1,750 |
| 8 | Red Bluff | $1,780 |
| 9 | El Centro | $1,820 |
| 10 | Florence-Graham | $1,835 |
| 11 | Oroville | $1,840 |
| 12 | Paradise | $1,860 |
| 13 | Florin | $1,875 |
| 14 | Isla Vista | $1,904 |
| 15 | Eureka | $1,910 |
Most expensive cities for a 3-bedroom in California
| # | City | 3-Bedroom rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Cruz | $6,055 |
| 2 | Scotts Valley | $5,870 |
| 3 | Aptos | $5,870 |
| 4 | Cupertino | $5,850 |
| 5 | Coronado | $5,720 |
| 6 | Foster City | $5,690 |
| 7 | Los Altos | $5,380 |
| 8 | Capitola | $5,340 |
| 9 | Solana Beach | $5,330 |
| 10 | Tiburon | $5,250 |
| 11 | Ladera Ranch | $5,250 |
| 12 | Newport Beach | $5,178 |
| 13 | Sunnyvale | $5,173 |
| 14 | Coto de Caza | $5,130 |
| 15 | Millbrae | $5,080 |
Nearby cities — 3-bedroom rent
Considering nearby alternatives? 5 of these cities have cheaper 3-bedroom rents than Santa Clara.
| City | Distance | 3-Bedroom rent | vs Santa Clara |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunnyvale, CA | 4 mi | $5,173 | +$416 (+9%) |
| Campbell, CA | 5.9 mi | $4,360 | $-397 (-8%) |
| Mountain View, CA | 7.9 mi | $4,963 | +$206 (+4%) |
| Milpitas, CA | 8.7 mi | $4,550 | $-207 (-4%) |
| Cupertino, CA | 8.8 mi | $5,850 | +$1,093 (+23%) |
| Saratoga, CA | 9 mi | $5,000 | +$243 (+5%) |
| Los Gatos, CA | 10 mi | $4,670 | $-87 (-2%) |
| Newark, CA | 10.7 mi | $3,530 | $-1,227 (-26%) |
| Fremont, CA | 11.8 mi | $4,303 | $-454 (-10%) |
| East Palo Alto, CA | 12.1 mi | $3,810 | $-947 (-20%) |
| Los Altos, CA | 12.2 mi | $5,380 | +$623 (+13%) |
| Palo Alto, CA | 12.8 mi | $4,975 | +$218 (+5%) |
3-Bedroom rent in Santa Clara — common questions
How much is a 3-bedroom apartment in Santa Clara?
As of July 2026, the median 3-bedroom apartment rent in Santa Clara, California is $4,757 per month. This is +22% higher than the citywide median of $3,890.
What income do you need to afford a 3-bedroom in Santa Clara?
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $190,280 ($15,857/month gross), which works out to roughly $91.48/hour at a full-time job.
Is Santa Clara expensive for a 3-bedroom compared to the rest of the US?
Santa Clara's 3-bedroom median of $4,757 is +123% above the national 3-bedroom median of $2,130. It ranks in the 99th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does Santa Clara rank for 3-bedroom rent in California?
Among the 386 cities in California with 3-bedroom data, Santa Clara ranks #350 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper 3-bedroom options near Santa Clara?
Yes — nearby cities with cheaper 3-bedroom rents include Campbell ($4,360), Milpitas ($4,550), Los Gatos ($4,670).