1-Bedroom Apartment Rent in Santa Cruz, CA
Median asking rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Santa Cruz, California as of July 2026. That's +2% higher than the citywide median of $3,649 and +166% above the national 1-bedroom median of $1,395.
Income needed for a 1-bedroom in Santa Cruz
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 1-bedroom at the current median rent.
Rent by apartment size in Santa Cruz
Compare Santa Cruz's median rent across every apartment size.
Cheapest cities for a 1-bedroom in California
| # | City | 1-Bedroom rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taft | $880 |
| 2 | Ridgecrest | $887 |
| 3 | Lakeport | $900 |
| 4 | California City | $950 |
| 5 | Clearlake | $950 |
| 6 | Barstow | $974 |
| 7 | Oroville | $1,005 |
| 8 | El Centro | $1,020 |
| 9 | Paradise | $1,020 |
| 10 | Red Bluff | $1,030 |
| 11 | Eureka | $1,040 |
| 12 | Porterville | $1,060 |
| 13 | Shafter | $1,060 |
| 14 | Tehachapi | $1,110 |
| 15 | Hanford | $1,120 |
Most expensive cities for a 1-bedroom in California
| # | City | 1-Bedroom rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cupertino | $3,880 |
| 2 | Foster City | $3,820 |
| 3 | Santa Cruz (this page) | $3,710 |
| 4 | Scotts Valley | $3,600 |
| 5 | Aptos | $3,600 |
| 6 | Tiburon | $3,530 |
| 7 | Los Altos | $3,530 |
| 8 | Coronado | $3,460 |
| 9 | Sunnyvale | $3,438 |
| 10 | Millbrae | $3,410 |
| 11 | Corte Madera | $3,390 |
| 12 | Santa Barbara | $3,382 |
| 13 | Palo Alto | $3,305 |
| 14 | Mountain View | $3,303 |
| 15 | Ladera Ranch | $3,280 |
Nearby cities — 1-bedroom rent
Considering nearby alternatives? 5 of these cities have cheaper 1-bedroom rents than Santa Cruz.
| City | Distance | 1-Bedroom rent | vs Santa Cruz |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scotts Valley, CA | 5.3 mi | $3,600 | $-110 (-3%) |
| Capitola, CA | 7.2 mi | $3,270 | $-440 (-12%) |
| Aptos, CA | 12.2 mi | $3,600 | $-110 (-3%) |
| Boulder Creek, CA | 13.3 mi | $2,061 | $-1,649 (-44%) |
| Los Gatos, CA | 16.4 mi | $3,105 | $-605 (-16%) |
| Saratoga, CA | 17.7 mi | $3,270 | $-440 (-12%) |
| Campbell, CA | 20.2 mi | $2,900 | $-810 (-22%) |
| Watsonville, CA | 20.9 mi | $2,780 | $-930 (-25%) |
| Cupertino, CA | 21 mi | $3,880 | +$170 (+5%) |
| Los Altos, CA | 25.2 mi | $3,530 | $-180 (-5%) |
| Santa Clara, CA | 25.6 mi | $3,160 | $-550 (-15%) |
| Sunnyvale, CA | 26.1 mi | $3,438 | $-272 (-7%) |
1-Bedroom rent in Santa Cruz — common questions
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in Santa Cruz?
As of July 2026, the median 1-bedroom apartment rent in Santa Cruz, California is $3,710 per month. This is +2% higher than the citywide median of $3,649.
What income do you need to afford a 1-bedroom in Santa Cruz?
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $148,400 ($12,367/month gross), which works out to roughly $71.35/hour at a full-time job.
Is Santa Cruz expensive for a 1-bedroom compared to the rest of the US?
Santa Cruz's 1-bedroom median of $3,710 is +166% above the national 1-bedroom median of $1,395. It ranks in the 100th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does Santa Cruz rank for 1-bedroom rent in California?
Among the 385 cities in California with 1-bedroom data, Santa Cruz ranks #383 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper 1-bedroom options near Santa Cruz?
Yes — nearby cities with cheaper 1-bedroom rents include Scotts Valley ($3,600), Capitola ($3,270), Aptos ($3,600).