Rents are 5% above what Solana Beach's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.
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 $5,784 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 Solana Beach is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in March 2022.
Rent in Solana Beach changed +10.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($152,167) is $3,804 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($3,220); a 2-bedroom is $3,990.
Encinitas, 3 miles away, rents for 25% less ($4,340/mo), about $17,300 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Solana 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
Solana Beach, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 72.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Solana Beach, CA has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in Solana Beach, CA has shifted from $4,461 to $5,784, up 29.7% since 2022. Household income in the area moved from $113,903 to $152,167 across the same window, up 33.6% versus 2021. 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 Solana Beach, CA losing about 202 residents over the five-year window, down 1.6% on net. The renter share has eased from 34.3% to 32.3%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 69.2% to 72.3% across the same window. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Solana Beach, CA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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At $5,784/mo, how Solana Beach rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Solana Beach rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Solana Beach. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Solana Beach
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Solana Beach is $5,784/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,970/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,990/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $3,220/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $5,330/mo.
At 46% of local median household income ($152,167/yr), Solana Beach ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 10.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Solana Beach?
Is rent going up or down in Solana Beach?
How does Solana Beach rent compare to other cities in California?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Solana Beach?
At $5,784/mo, rent takes ~46% of Solana Beach's median household income ($152,167/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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