Rents are 8% below what Santa Cruz's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $3,560 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: August 17, 2026
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Who lives here
Santa Cruz, CA is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income above the national average, 57.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Santa Cruz, CA has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in Santa Cruz, CA has shifted from $2,688 to $3,560, up 32.4% since 2021. Census figures show median household income at $115,475 today, compared with $96,217 five years earlier. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Santa Cruz, CA losing about 1,107 residents over the five-year window, down 1.8% on net. The renter share has eased from 54.1% to 51.6%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
Discussions about Santa Cruz
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Can you afford rent in Santa Cruz on your salary?
At $3,560/mo, how Santa Cruz rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Santa Cruz rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Santa Cruz. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Santa Cruz
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Santa Cruz is $3,560/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $3,520/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $4,865/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $3,710/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $6,055/mo.
At 37% of local median household income ($115,475/yr), Santa Cruz ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
Is Santa Cruz an affordable city for renters?
How much income do you need to rent in Santa Cruz?
Is rent going up or down in Santa Cruz?
Which Santa Cruz neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Santa Cruz rent compare to other cities in California?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Santa Cruz?
What percentage of Santa Cruz residents rent vs. own?
How does Santa Cruz rent compare to the national average?
At $3,560/mo, rent takes ~37% of Santa Cruz's median household income ($115,475/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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