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

As of June 2026, the median monthly rent in Santa Monica, CA is $3,596. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Santa Monica cheaper than other California cities?

Santa Monica is one of the pricier cities in California, ranking #68 out of 384 cities tracked at $3,596/mo.

When was Santa Monica rent data last updated?

Santa Monica rent data reflects June 2026 and was last refreshed on June 22, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · CA

Santa Monica

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

Pop. 91,169·68th most expensive in California·One of the pricier rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$3,596/mo

Year-over-Year

+2.4%

Month-over-Month

-0.3%

vs US Median

+$1,645

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Santa Monica · $3,596

More expensive than 96% of US cities · National median $1,951/mo

Rent Reality Score

56/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 3% below what Santa Monica's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$3,596/mo

Expected by trend

$3,713/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,352

1 BR

$2,638

2 BR

$3,328

3 BR

$4,230

4 BR+

$4,688

Research median

$3,328/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: June 22, 2026

Annual cost

$43,152/yr

At $3,596/mo median

Market timing

Rents stable

Prices holding steady month-over-month.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

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.

Population

91,169

Median income

$114,885

Median age

42.7

Renters

72.1%

Age distribution

13.8%

23.9%

28.5%

14.3%

19.5%

Under 1813.8%

18–3423.9%

35–5428.5%

55–6414.3%

65+19.5%

Gender

46.9%

53.1%

Male46.9%

Female53.1%

Race & ethnicity

65.1%

15.3%

White65.1%

Black5.3%

Hispanic15.3%

Asian10.1%

Other4.2%

Education (25+)

16.1%

70.7%

No HS diploma5.2%

HS diploma8%

Some college16.1%

Bachelor's+70.7%

Housing tenure

27.9%

72.1%

Owner27.9%

Renter72.1%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Santa Monica, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,891 → $3,596

up 24.4%

Income

$99,847 → $114,885

up 15.1%

Population

92,828 → 91,169

down 1.8%

Renter share

71.5% → 72.1%

+0.6 pts

Bachelor's+

67.8% → 70.7%

+2.9 pts

Median age

41.4 → 42.7

+1.3 yrs

Compared with 2021, rent in Santa Monica, CA has increased by $705 per month, settling near $3,596 after starting the period at $2,891. 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 9.3 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.

Community

Discussions about Santa Monica

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View Santa Monica rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Santa Monica on your salary?

At $3,596/mo, how Santa Monica rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 38.7% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 54.5% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 47.3% income

rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 26.5% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 20.7% income

affordable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 58.2% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 64.5% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 52.3% income

severely rent-burdened

By apartment size

Santa Monica rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Santa Monica

About renting in Santa Monica, CA

Last updated: June 22, 2026

The median rent in Santa Monica is $3,596/mo as of June 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 38% of local median household income ($114,885/yr), Santa Monica ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Santa Monica an affordable city for renters?

Santa Monica is considered moderate for renters. At $3,596/mo, rent takes approximately 38% of the local median household income ($114,885/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Santa Monica slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

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

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $144,000/year (~$69/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,596/mo in Santa Monica. The local median household income is $114,885/yr, meaning the typical Santa Monica household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Santa Monica?

Rent in Santa Monica has increased 2.4% over the past year as of June 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Santa Monica neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Santa Monica are 90404 ($3,289/mo), 90405 ($3,486/mo), and 90403 ($3,674/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Santa Monica is $3,596/mo.

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

Santa Monica is one of the pricier cities in California for rent, ranking #68 out of 384 tracked cities at $3,596/mo.

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

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Santa Monica ($3,596/mo): El Segundo ($2,823/mo), West Hollywood ($3,160/mo), Culver City ($3,561/mo).

What percentage of Santa Monica residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 72.1% of Santa Monica households are renters, while 27.9% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Santa Monica has a strong rental market.

How does Santa Monica rent compare to the national average?

Santa Monica's median rent of $3,596/mo is $1,645 (84%) above the US national median of $1,951/mo. Within California, it ranks #68 out of 384 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

38%

MODERATE

At $3,596/mo, rent takes ~38% of Santa Monica's median household income ($114,885/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Santa Monica 38%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the Santa Monica affordability calculator →

Nearby cities