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

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Seaside, CA is $3,111. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Seaside cheaper than other California cities?

Seaside falls in the middle range for California, ranking #131 out of 381 cities at $3,111/mo.

When was Seaside rent data last updated?

Seaside 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 Seaside, CA?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Seaside, CA at $3,140 per month, which is close to the $3,111 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

Seaside

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

Pop. 31,814·131st most expensive in California·One of the pricier rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$3,111/mo

Year-over-Year

+4.2%

Month-over-Month

-1.4%

vs US Median

+$1,149

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Seaside · $3,111

More expensive than 92% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Rent Reality Score

51/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

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

Actual rent

$3,111/mo

Expected by trend

$3,127/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,540

1 BR

$2,610

2 BR

$3,140

3 BR

$4,240

4 BR+

$4,620

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$3,140/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $3,111 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

$37,332/yr

At $3,111/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (+4.2% YoY, -1.4% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Seaside, CA is majority renter-occupied, 29.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

31,814

Median income

$85,311

Median age

Renters

64.6%

Age distribution

21.8%

29.7%

25.3%

12.8%

Under 1821.8%

18–3429.7%

35–5425.3%

55–6410.5%

65+12.8%

Gender

50.1%

49.9%

Male50.1%

Female49.9%

Race & ethnicity

38.6%

48.2%

White38.6%

Black4.8%

Hispanic48.2%

Asian9.9%

Education (25+)

18.2%

22%

30.2%

29.6%

No HS diploma18.2%

HS diploma22%

Some college30.2%

Bachelor's+29.6%

Housing tenure

35.4%

64.6%

Owner35.4%

Renter64.6%

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

2023 vs 2026

How Seaside, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,437 → $3,111

up 27.7%

Income

$74,140 → $85,311

up 15.1%

Population

32,631 → 31,814

down 2.5%

Renter share

60.5% → 64.6%

+4.1 pts

Bachelor's+

24.2% → 29.6%

+5.4 pts

Five years ago, renters in Seaside, CA paid around $2,437 a month. That figure now sits near $3,111, up 27.7% from the 2023 baseline. On the earnings side, the typical household in Seaside, CA now reports about $85,311, up from $74,140 in 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Seaside, CA losing about 817 residents over the five-year window, down 2.5% on net. The renter share has risen from 60.5% to 64.6%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 24.2% to 29.6% across the same window. For context, the 2023 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Seaside, CA reflects that arc in its own way.

Community

Discussions about Seaside

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View Seaside rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Seaside on your salary?

At $3,111/mo, how Seaside rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 33.5% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 47.2% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 40.9% income

rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 22.9% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 17.9% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 50.4% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 55.8% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 45.3% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Seaside rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Seaside

About renting in Seaside, CA

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Seaside is $3,111/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,540/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,140/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,610/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $4,240/mo.

At 44% of local median household income ($85,311/yr), Seaside ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.2% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Seaside an affordable city for renters?

Seaside is considered stretched for renters. At $3,111/mo, rent takes approximately 44% of the local median household income ($85,311/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Seaside significantly exceeds that threshold, making it challenging for many renters.

How much income do you need to rent in Seaside?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $124,000/year (~$60/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,111/mo in Seaside. The local median household income is $85,311/yr, meaning the typical Seaside household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Seaside?

Rent in Seaside has increased 4.2% over the past year as of August 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Seaside rent compare to other cities in California?

Seaside is middle-of-the-pack for California for rent, ranking #131 out of 381 tracked cities at $3,111/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Seaside?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Seaside ($3,111/mo): Salinas ($2,472/mo), Monterey ($2,757/mo), Pacific Grove ($3,038/mo).

What percentage of Seaside residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 64.6% of Seaside households are renters, while 35.4% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Seaside has a strong rental market.

How does Seaside rent compare to the national average?

Seaside's median rent of $3,111/mo is $1,149 (59%) above the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within California, it ranks #131 out of 381 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

44%

STRETCHED

At $3,111/mo, rent takes ~44% of Seaside's median household income ($85,311/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Seaside 44%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the Seaside affordability calculator →

Nearby cities