How much does it cost to rent in Saratoga, CA?

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Saratoga, CA is $6,244. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Saratoga cheaper than other California cities?

Saratoga is one of the pricier cities in California, ranking #8 out of 381 cities tracked at $6,244/mo.

When was Saratoga rent data last updated?

Saratoga rent data reflects August 2026 and was last refreshed on August 17, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

What is the Fair Market Rent in Saratoga, CA?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Saratoga, CA at $3,880 per month, which is 38% below the $6,244 market median. Fair Market Rent is the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) payment standard. It is a 40th-percentile gross rent that includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash, and HUD updates it once a year, so it measures something different from current market asking rent.

City Report · CA

Saratoga

Name: Average Rent Prices in Saratoga, CA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Pop. 30,319·8th most expensive in California·Saratoga rents are up 10.9% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$6,244/mo

Year-over-Year

+10.9%

Month-over-Month

+2.5%

vs US Median

+$4,282

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Saratoga · $6,244

More expensive than 100% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Rent Reality Score

51/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are right about where Saratoga's 10-year trend predicts.

Actual rent

$6,244/mo

Expected by trend

$6,289/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,910

1 BR

$3,270

2 BR

$3,880

3 BR

$5,000

4 BR+

$5,430

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$3,880/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $6,244 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 →

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost

$74,928/yr

At $6,244/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 10.9% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+10.9% YoY, +2.5% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Saratoga, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 81.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

30,319

Median income

$250,001

Median age

51.7

Renters

13.6%

Age distribution

18.9%

26.5%

17.7%

26.5%

Under 1818.9%

18–3410.5%

35–5426.5%

55–6417.7%

65+26.5%

Gender

49.2%

50.8%

Male49.2%

Female50.8%

Race & ethnicity

33.4%

59.5%

White33.4%

Hispanic2.8%

Asian59.5%

Other4.2%

Education (25+)

81.1%

No HS diploma2.9%

HS diploma5.8%

Some college10.2%

Bachelor's+81.1%

Housing tenure

86.4%

13.6%

Owner86.4%

Renter13.6%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Saratoga, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$4,943 → $6,244

up 26.3%

Income

$224,179 → $250,001

up 11.5%

Population

31,194 → 30,319

down 2.8%

Renter share

12.8% → 13.6%

+0.8 pts

Bachelor's+

80.6% → 81.1%

+0.5 pts

Median age

50.2 → 51.7

+1.5 yrs

Compared with 2021, rent in Saratoga, CA has increased by $1,301 per month, settling near $6,244 after starting the period at $4,943. Census figures show median household income at $250,001 today, compared with $224,179 five years earlier. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 14.8 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 31,194 to 30,319 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.8% change. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.

Community

Discussions about Saratoga

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View Saratoga rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Saratoga on your salary?

At $6,244/mo, how Saratoga rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 67.2% income

severely rent-burdened

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 94.7% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 82.2% income

severely rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 46% income

rent-burdened

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 36% income

stretched

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 101.1% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 112% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 90.8% income

severely rent-burdened

By apartment size

Saratoga rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Saratoga

About renting in Saratoga, CA

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Saratoga is $6,244/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,910/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,880/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $3,270/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $5,000/mo.

At 30% of local median household income ($250,001/yr), Saratoga ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 10.9% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Saratoga an affordable city for renters?

Saratoga is considered moderate for renters. At $6,244/mo, rent takes approximately 30% of the local median household income ($250,001/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Saratoga slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Saratoga?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $250,000/year (~$120/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $6,244/mo in Saratoga. The local median household income is $250,001/yr, meaning the typical Saratoga household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Saratoga?

Rent in Saratoga has increased 10.9% over the past year as of August 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Saratoga rent compare to other cities in California?

Saratoga is one of the pricier cities in California for rent, ranking #8 out of 381 tracked cities at $6,244/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Saratoga?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Saratoga ($6,244/mo): Campbell ($3,395/mo), Sunnyvale ($3,899/mo), Los Gatos ($4,256/mo).

What percentage of Saratoga residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 13.6% of Saratoga households are renters, while 86.4% are owner-occupied. Saratoga leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Saratoga rent compare to the national average?

Saratoga's median rent of $6,244/mo is $4,282 (218%) above the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within California, it ranks #8 out of 381 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

30%

MODERATE

At $6,244/mo, rent takes ~30% of Saratoga's median household income ($250,001/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Saratoga 30%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the Saratoga affordability calculator →

Nearby cities