Rents are 2% below what Santa Monica'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 $3,438 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: September 25, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Santa Monica is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Santa Monica changed +1.7% over the year to August 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.3%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Santa Monica rose 13.5% while median household income rose 19% ($96,570 to $114,885). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in Santa Monica is 18.5% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 36.8% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 5 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($114,885) is $2,872 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($2,638); a 2-bedroom is $3,328.
The priciest of 5 ZIP codes in Santa Monica, 90402 ($6,978/mo), costs 2.2 times the cheapest, 90405 ($3,162/mo).
View Park-Windsor Hills, 8 miles away, rents for 41% less ($2,032/mo), about $16,900 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Santa Monica. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Santa Monica, CA is majority renter-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 70.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Santa Monica, CA has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2021, rent in Santa Monica, CA has increased by $664 per month, settling near $3,438 after starting the period at $2,774. Household income in the area moved from $99,847 to $114,885 across the same window, up 15.1% versus 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 8.8 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 92,828 to 91,169 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.8% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 67.8% to 70.7%. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Santa Monica, CA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
Discussions about Santa Monica
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Can you afford rent in Santa Monica on your salary?
At $3,438/mo, how Santa Monica rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Santa Monica rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Santa Monica. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Santa Monica
Last updated: September 25, 2026
The median rent in Santa Monica is $3,438/mo as of September 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,352/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,328/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,638/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $4,230/mo.
At 36% of local median household income ($114,885/yr), Santa Monica ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.7% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Santa Monica?
At $3,438/mo, rent takes ~36% of Santa Monica's median household income ($114,885/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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