How much does it cost to rent in Santa Cruz, CA?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Santa Cruz, CA is $3,649. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Santa Cruz cheaper than other California cities?

Santa Cruz is one of the pricier cities in California, ranking #68 out of 387 cities tracked at $3,649/mo.

When was Santa Cruz rent data last updated?

Santa Cruz rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · CA

Santa Cruz

Name: Average Rent Prices in Santa Cruz, CA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 61,607·68th most expensive in California·Santa Cruz rents are up 8.4% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$3,649/mo

Year-over-Year

+8.4%

Month-over-Month

+0.2%

vs US Median

+$1,684

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Santa Cruz · $3,649

More expensive than 96% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

61/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 5% below what Santa Cruz's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$3,649/mo

Expected by trend

$3,854/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

$3,520

1 BR

$3,710

2 BR

$4,865

3 BR

$6,055

4 BR+

$6,455

Research median

$4,865/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$43,788/yr

At $3,649/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 8.4% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+8.4% YoY, +0.2% 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

$2,688 → $3,649

up 35.8%

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 $2,688 to $3,649, up 35.8% 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 $3,649/mo, how Santa Cruz rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 39.3% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 55.3% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 48% income

rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 26.9% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 21% income

affordable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 59.1% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 65.4% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 53.1% income

severely 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: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Santa Cruz is $3,649/mo as of July 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 38% of local median household income ($115,475/yr), Santa Cruz ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 8.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Santa Cruz an affordable city for renters?

Santa Cruz is considered moderate for renters. At $3,649/mo, rent takes approximately 38% of the local median household income ($115,475/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Santa Cruz slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

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 $146,000/year (~$70/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,649/mo in Santa Cruz. The local median household income is $115,475/yr, meaning the typical Santa Cruz household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Santa Cruz?

Rent in Santa Cruz has increased 8.4% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Santa Cruz neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Santa Cruz are 95062 ($3,647/mo), and 95060 ($3,720/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Santa Cruz is $3,649/mo.

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

Santa Cruz is one of the pricier cities in California for rent, ranking #68 out of 387 tracked cities at $3,649/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Santa Cruz?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Santa Cruz ($3,649/mo): Boulder Creek ($2,750/mo), Capitola ($3,418/mo).

What percentage of Santa Cruz residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 51.6% of Santa Cruz households are renters, while 48.4% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Santa Cruz has a strong rental market.

How does Santa Cruz rent compare to the national average?

Santa Cruz's median rent of $3,649/mo is $1,684 (86%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within California, it ranks #68 out of 387 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

38%

MODERATE

At $3,649/mo, rent takes ~38% of Santa Cruz's median household income ($115,475/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Santa Cruz 38%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the Santa Cruz affordability calculator →

Nearby cities