1-Bedroom Apartment Rent in Santa Monica, CA
Median asking rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Santa Monica, California as of July 2026. That's +25% lower than the citywide median of $3,517 and +89% above the national 1-bedroom median of $1,395.
Income needed for a 1-bedroom in Santa Monica
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 Monica
Compare Santa Monica'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 | $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? 4 of these cities have cheaper 1-bedroom rents than Santa Monica.
| City | Distance | 1-Bedroom rent | vs Santa Monica |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marina del Rey, CA | 3.9 mi | $3,120 | +$482 (+18%) |
| Culver City, CA | 6.6 mi | $2,685 | +$47 (+2%) |
| Beverly Hills, CA | 7 mi | $2,987 | +$349 (+13%) |
| West Hollywood, CA | 8.7 mi | $2,900 | +$262 (+10%) |
| El Segundo, CA | 9.3 mi | $2,770 | +$132 (+5%) |
| View Park-Windsor Hills, CA | 9.6 mi | $1,690 | $-948 (-36%) |
| Topanga, CA | 10.7 mi | $3,120 | +$482 (+18%) |
| Inglewood, CA | 10.8 mi | $1,914 | $-724 (-27%) |
| Manhattan Beach, CA | 10.9 mi | $3,120 | +$482 (+18%) |
| Hawthorne, CA | 12.1 mi | $1,860 | $-778 (-29%) |
| Hermosa Beach, CA | 12.5 mi | $3,030 | +$392 (+15%) |
| Lawndale, CA | 13.2 mi | $1,980 | $-658 (-25%) |
1-Bedroom rent in Santa Monica — common questions
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in Santa Monica?
As of July 2026, the median 1-bedroom apartment rent in Santa Monica, California is $2,638 per month. This is +25% below the citywide median of $3,517.
What income do you need to afford a 1-bedroom in Santa Monica?
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $105,520 ($8,793/month gross), which works out to roughly $50.73/hour at a full-time job.
Is Santa Monica expensive for a 1-bedroom compared to the rest of the US?
Santa Monica's 1-bedroom median of $2,638 is +89% above the national 1-bedroom median of $1,395. It ranks in the 96th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does Santa Monica rank for 1-bedroom rent in California?
Among the 385 cities in California with 1-bedroom data, Santa Monica ranks #298 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper 1-bedroom options near Santa Monica?
Yes — nearby cities with cheaper 1-bedroom rents include View Park-Windsor Hills ($1,690), Inglewood ($1,914), Hawthorne ($1,860).