City Report · CA

Santa Cruz

Pop. 61,607·85th most expensive in California·One of the pricier rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$3,418/mo

Year-over-Year

+4.0%

Month-over-Month

+0.6%

vs US Median

+$1,486

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Santa Cruz · $3,418

More expensive than 95% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo

Rent Reality Score

63/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 7% below what Santa Cruz's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$3,418/mo

Expected by trend

$3,659/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Santa Cruz's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,428

1 BR

$2,559

2 BR

$3,355

3 BR

$4,176

4 BR+

$4,452

Research median

$3,355/mo

Bedroom figures are derived from HUD Fair Market Rents and scaled to match Santa Cruz's market median, because the published HUD values all ran above it. They are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

December. Asking rents in Santa Cruz usually run 1.2% below trend in December and 1.2% above it in July, about $82 a month apart at today's median. Based on 10 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in Santa Cruz is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in March 2016.

Past year vs. the rest of California

Rent in Santa Cruz changed +4.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in Santa Cruz rose 32.8% while median household income rose 48.2% ($77,921 to $115,475). Income kept ahead of rent.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in Santa Cruz is 37.4% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 7 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($115,475) is $2,887 a month. That is less than HUD's Fair Market Rent for a studio ($3,520).

Cheaper nearby

Soquel, 7 miles away, rents for 17% less ($2,850/mo), about $6,800 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Santa Cruz. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$41,016/yr

At $3,418/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (4.0% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+4.0% YoY, +0.6% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

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.

Population

61,607

Median income

$115,475

Median age

31.1

Renters

51.6%

Age distribution

43.5%

20.7%

15.1%

Under 1811.2%

18–3443.5%

35–5420.7%

55–649.4%

65+15.1%

Gender

49.4%

50.6%

Male49.4%

Female50.6%

Race & ethnicity

63.5%

22.4%

White63.5%

Black1.8%

Hispanic22.4%

Asian10.2%

Other2.1%

Education (25+)

27.6%

57.6%

No HS diploma4.8%

HS diploma9.9%

Some college27.6%

Bachelor's+57.6%

Housing tenure

48.4%

51.6%

Owner48.4%

Renter51.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Santa Cruz, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,599 → $3,418

up 31.5%

Income

$96,217 → $115,475

up 20.0%

Population

62,714 → 61,607

down 1.8%

Renter share

54.1% → 51.6%

-2.5 pts

Bachelor's+

56.6% → 57.6%

+1.0 pts

Median age

29 → 31.1

+2.1 yrs

Across the past five years, the going rent in Santa Cruz, CA has shifted from $2,599 to $3,418, up 31.5% 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.

Community

Discussions about Santa Cruz

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View Santa Cruz rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Santa Cruz on your salary?

At $3,418/mo, how Santa Cruz rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 36.8% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 51.8% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 45% income

rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 25.2% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 19.7% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 55.3% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 61.3% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 49.7% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Santa Cruz rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Santa Cruz. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Santa Cruz

About renting in Santa Cruz, CA

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Santa Cruz is $3,418/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,428/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,355/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,559/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $4,176/mo.

At 36% of local median household income ($115,475/yr), Santa Cruz ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Santa Cruz?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $137,000/year (about $66/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,418/mo in Santa Cruz. The local median household income is $115,475/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Santa Cruz?

Rent in Santa Cruz has risen 4.0% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in March 2016.

When is the cheapest time to rent in Santa Cruz?

Asking rents in Santa Cruz are usually lowest in December, about 1.2% below their yearly trend, and highest in July, about 1.2% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $82 a month. This pattern comes from 10 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in Santa Cruz?

No. From 2019 to 2024, rent in Santa Cruz rose 32.8% while median household income rose 48.2%, from $77,921 to $115,475. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

Which Santa Cruz neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Santa Cruz are 95060 ($3,312/mo), and 95062 ($3,499/mo). Citywide, the median rent is $3,418/mo.

How does Santa Cruz rent compare to other cities in California?

Santa Cruz is one of the pricier among California cities for rent, ranking #85 of 382 tracked cities at $3,418/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Santa Cruz changed +4.0%, against a typical +3.4% across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks.