Rents are 9% below what Seal Beach'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 $2,935 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
Rent in Seal Beach is 6.2% below its high of $3,129 in November 2025, at $2,935 as of September 2026.
Rent in Seal Beach changed -4.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
Rent has fallen 5 months in a row, and rose in 5 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($85,964) is $2,149 a month. That is less than HUD's Fair Market Rent for a studio ($2,370).
Long Beach, 6 miles away, rents for 18% less ($2,412/mo), about $6,300 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Seal Beach. 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
Seal Beach, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 51.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Seal Beach, CA has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Seal Beach, CA paid around $2,698 a month. That figure now sits near $2,935, up 8.8% from the 2023 baseline. Census figures show median household income at $85,964 today, compared with $75,821 five years earlier. With wages climbing faster than rent over the same window, renters here have a bit more breathing room than they did five years back. Census counts show Seal Beach, CA losing about 494 residents over the five-year window, down 2.0% on net. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2023.
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Can you afford rent in Seal Beach on your salary?
At $2,935/mo, how Seal Beach rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Seal Beach rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Seal Beach. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Seal Beach
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Seal Beach is $2,935/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,370/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,930/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,480/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,960/mo.
At 41% of local median household income ($85,964/yr), Seal Beach ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 4.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Seal Beach?
Is rent going up or down in Seal Beach?
How does Seal Beach rent compare to other cities in California?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Seal Beach?
At $2,935/mo, rent takes ~41% of Seal Beach's median household income ($85,964/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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