Studio Apartment Rent in Santa Clara, CA
Median asking rent for a studio apartment in Santa Clara, California as of August 2026. That's +30% lower than the citywide median of $3,935 and +115% above the national studio median of $1,290.
Income needed for a studio 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 studio 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 studio in California
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florin | $738 |
| 2 | Ridgecrest | $864 |
| 3 | Taft | $870 |
| 4 | Lakeport | $890 |
| 5 | El Centro | $910 |
| 6 | Barstow | $915 |
| 7 | Red Bluff | $930 |
| 8 | California City | $940 |
| 9 | Clearlake | $950 |
| 10 | Paradise | $970 |
| 11 | Eureka | $980 |
| 12 | Oroville | $985 |
| 13 | Fortuna | $990 |
| 14 | Florence-Graham | $1,029 |
| 15 | Porterville | $1,050 |
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 | Sunnyvale | $3,010 |
| 12 | Santa Barbara | $3,000 |
| 13 | Irvine | $3,000 |
| 14 | Solana Beach | $2,970 |
| 15 | Saratoga | $2,910 |
Nearby cities — studio rent
Considering nearby alternatives? 5 of these cities have cheaper studio rents than Santa Clara.
| City | Distance | Studio rent | vs Santa Clara |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunnyvale, CA | 4 mi | $3,010 | +$240 (+9%) |
| Campbell, CA | 5.9 mi | $2,540 | $-230 (-8%) |
| Mountain View, CA | 7.9 mi | $2,890 | +$120 (+4%) |
| Milpitas, CA | 8.7 mi | $2,650 | $-120 (-4%) |
| Cupertino, CA | 8.8 mi | $3,410 | +$640 (+23%) |
| Saratoga, CA | 9 mi | $2,910 | +$140 (+5%) |
| Los Gatos, CA | 10 mi | $2,720 | $-50 (-2%) |
| Newark, CA | 10.7 mi | $1,990 | $-780 (-28%) |
| Fremont, CA | 11.8 mi | $2,425 | $-345 (-12%) |
| East Palo Alto, CA | 12.1 mi | $2,150 | $-620 (-22%) |
| Los Altos, CA | 12.2 mi | $3,130 | +$360 (+13%) |
| Palo Alto, CA | 12.8 mi | $2,900 | +$130 (+5%) |
Studio rent in Santa Clara — common questions
How much is a studio apartment in Santa Clara?
As of August 2026, the median studio apartment rent in Santa Clara, California is $2,770 per month. This is +30% below the citywide median of $3,935.
What income do you need to afford a studio in Santa Clara?
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $110,800 ($9,233/month gross), which works out to roughly $53.27/hour at a full-time job.
Is Santa Clara expensive for a studio compared to the rest of the US?
Santa Clara's studio median of $2,770 is +115% above the national studio median of $1,290. It ranks in the 98th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does Santa Clara rank for studio rent in California?
Among the 378 cities in California with studio data, Santa Clara ranks #347 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper studio options near Santa Clara?
Yes — nearby cities with cheaper studio rents include Campbell ($2,540), Milpitas ($2,650), Los Gatos ($2,720).