Rents are 6% below what Santa Rosa'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 $2,582 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: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
December. Asking rents in Santa Rosa usually run 0.5% below trend in December and 0.6% above it in June, about $28 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Santa Rosa is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Santa Rosa changed +3.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Santa Rosa rose 21.8% while median household income rose 31% ($75,630 to $99,060). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in Santa Rosa is 25.6% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 11 months in a row, and rose in 11 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($99,060) is $2,477 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($2,098); a 2-bedroom is $2,753.
The priciest of 6 ZIP codes in Santa Rosa, 95403 ($2,851/mo), costs 18% more than the cheapest, 95404 ($2,412/mo).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Santa Rosa. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. 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 Rosa, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 35.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Santa Rosa, CA has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in Santa Rosa, CA has climbed from $2,104 to $2,582, a 22.7% change over five years. Census figures show median household income at $99,060 today, compared with $84,823 five years earlier. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 1.2% since 2021, moving from about 179,213 residents to roughly 177,090. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Santa Rosa on your salary?
At $2,582/mo, how Santa Rosa rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Santa Rosa rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Santa Rosa. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Santa Rosa
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Santa Rosa is $2,582/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,888/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,753/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,098/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,762/mo.
At 31% of local median household income ($99,060/yr), Santa Rosa ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.3% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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At $2,582/mo, rent takes ~31% of Santa Rosa's median household income ($99,060/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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