Rents are 6% 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 $3,493 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: August 17, 2026
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
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 $602 per month, settling near $3,493 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 5.7 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
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Santa Monica on your salary?
At $3,493/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: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Santa Monica is $3,493/mo as of August 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 decreased 0.6% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
Is Santa Monica an affordable city for renters?
How much income do you need to rent in Santa Monica?
Is rent going up or down in Santa Monica?
Which Santa Monica neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Santa Monica rent compare to other cities in California?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Santa Monica?
What percentage of Santa Monica residents rent vs. own?
How does Santa Monica rent compare to the national average?
At $3,493/mo, rent takes ~36% of Santa Monica's median household income ($114,885/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Santa Monica.
No discussions yet.