Rents are 4% below what Seaside'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 $2,938 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 Seaside is 0.4% below its high of $2,951 in August 2026, at $2,938 as of September 2026.
Rent in Seaside changed +3.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($85,311) is $2,133 a month. That is less than HUD's Fair Market Rent for a studio ($2,540).
Salinas, 10 miles away, rents for 14% less ($2,530/mo), about $4,900 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Seaside. 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
Seaside, CA is majority renter-occupied, 29.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Seaside, CA has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Seaside, CA paid around $2,570 a month. That figure now sits near $2,938, up 14.3% 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. 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.
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Can you afford rent in Seaside on your salary?
At $2,938/mo, how Seaside rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Seaside rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Seaside. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Seaside
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Seaside is $2,938/mo as of October 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 41% of local median household income ($85,311/yr), Seaside ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.7% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Seaside?
Is rent going up or down in Seaside?
How does Seaside rent compare to other cities in California?
At $2,938/mo, rent takes ~41% of Seaside's median household income ($85,311/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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