Studio Apartment Rent in Santa Rosa, CA
Median asking rent for a studio apartment in Santa Rosa, California as of August 2026. That's +27% lower than the citywide median of $2,574 and +46% above the national studio median of $1,290.
Income needed for a studio in Santa Rosa
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 studio at the current median rent.
Rent by apartment size in Santa Rosa
Compare Santa Rosa's median rent across every apartment size.
Cheapest cities for a studio in California
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florin | $738 |
| 2 | Ridgecrest | $864 |
| 3 | Taft | $870 |
| 4 | Lakeport | $890 |
| 5 | El Centro | $910 |
| 6 | Barstow | $915 |
| 7 | Red Bluff | $930 |
| 8 | California City | $940 |
| 9 | Clearlake | $950 |
| 10 | Paradise | $970 |
| 11 | Eureka | $980 |
| 12 | Oroville | $985 |
| 13 | Fortuna | $990 |
| 14 | Florence-Graham | $1,029 |
| 15 | Porterville | $1,050 |
Most expensive cities for a studio in California
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Cruz | $3,520 |
| 2 | Scotts Valley | $3,420 |
| 3 | Aptos | $3,420 |
| 4 | Cupertino | $3,410 |
| 5 | Coronado | $3,190 |
| 6 | Ladera Ranch | $3,140 |
| 7 | Los Altos | $3,130 |
| 8 | Foster City | $3,130 |
| 9 | Newport Beach | $3,102 |
| 10 | Capitola | $3,100 |
| 11 | Sunnyvale | $3,010 |
| 12 | Santa Barbara | $3,000 |
| 13 | Irvine | $3,000 |
| 14 | Solana Beach | $2,970 |
| 15 | Saratoga | $2,910 |
Nearby cities — studio rent
Considering nearby alternatives? 5 of these cities have cheaper studio rents than Santa Rosa.
| City | Distance | Studio rent | vs Santa Rosa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rohnert Park, CA | 8.1 mi | $2,030 | +$142 (+8%) |
| Windsor, CA | 9.2 mi | $2,130 | +$242 (+13%) |
| Sebastopol, CA | 11.7 mi | $1,780 | $-108 (-6%) |
| Petaluma, CA | 16.1 mi | $2,190 | +$302 (+16%) |
| Healdsburg, CA | 16.8 mi | $1,910 | +$22 (+1%) |
| Guerneville, CA | 21.4 mi | $1,450 | $-438 (-23%) |
| Sonoma, CA | 22.1 mi | $1,840 | $-48 (-3%) |
| Novato, CA | 26.9 mi | $2,097 | +$209 (+11%) |
| Napa, CA | 30.7 mi | $1,845 | $-43 (-2%) |
| San Anselmo, CA | 33.4 mi | $2,210 | +$322 (+17%) |
| San Rafael, CA | 34.2 mi | $2,330 | +$442 (+23%) |
| Clearlake, CA | 35.6 mi | $950 | $-938 (-50%) |
Studio rent in Santa Rosa — common questions
How much is a studio apartment in Santa Rosa?
As of August 2026, the median studio apartment rent in Santa Rosa, California is $1,888 per month. This is +27% below the citywide median of $2,574.
What income do you need to afford a studio in Santa Rosa?
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $75,520 ($6,293/month gross), which works out to roughly $36.31/hour at a full-time job.
Is Santa Rosa expensive for a studio compared to the rest of the US?
Santa Rosa's studio median of $1,888 is +46% above the national studio median of $1,290. It ranks in the 84th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does Santa Rosa rank for studio rent in California?
Among the 378 cities in California with studio data, Santa Rosa ranks #165 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper studio options near Santa Rosa?
Yes — nearby cities with cheaper studio rents include Sebastopol ($1,780), Guerneville ($1,450), Sonoma ($1,840).