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

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Sunnyvale, CA is $3,821. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Sunnyvale cheaper than other California cities?

Sunnyvale is one of the pricier cities in California, ranking #54 out of 387 cities tracked at $3,821/mo.

When was Sunnyvale rent data last updated?

Sunnyvale rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · CA

Sunnyvale

Name: Average Rent Prices in Sunnyvale, CA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 154,236·54th most expensive in California·Sunnyvale rents are up 13.9% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$3,821/mo

Year-over-Year

+13.9%

Month-over-Month

+3.1%

vs US Median

+$1,856

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Sunnyvale · $3,821

More expensive than 97% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

25/100

Overpriced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 13% above what Sunnyvale's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.

Actual rent

$3,821/mo

Expected by trend

$3,398/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$3,010

1 BR

$3,438

2 BR

$3,980

3 BR

$5,173

4 BR+

$5,633

Research median

$3,980/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$45,852/yr

At $3,821/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 13.9% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+13.9% YoY, +3.1% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Sunnyvale, CA is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income above the national average, 69.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

154,236

Median income

$186,170

Median age

35.2

Renters

56.2%

Age distribution

19.5%

30.1%

27.1%

13%

Under 1819.5%

18–3430.1%

35–5427.1%

55–6410.4%

65+13%

Gender

52.4%

47.6%

Male52.4%

Female47.6%

Race & ethnicity

28.4%

17%

49.6%

White28.4%

Black1.6%

Hispanic17%

Asian49.6%

Other3.4%

Education (25+)

15.1%

69.3%

No HS diploma5.6%

HS diploma10%

Some college15.1%

Bachelor's+69.3%

Housing tenure

43.8%

56.2%

Owner43.8%

Renter56.2%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Sunnyvale, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,772 → $3,821

up 37.8%

Income

$161,670 → $186,170

up 15.2%

Population

155,550 → 154,236

down 0.8%

Renter share

54.6% → 56.2%

+1.6 pts

Bachelor's+

66.8% → 69.3%

+2.5 pts

Rent in Sunnyvale, CA has climbed 37.8% since 2021, going from about $2,772 per month to roughly $3,821 today. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $161,670 in 2021 to $186,170 more recently. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 22.6 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. About 56.2% of households rent today, against 54.6% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 66.8% to 69.3%. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Sunnyvale, CA market of 2021.

Community

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View Sunnyvale rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Sunnyvale on your salary?

At $3,821/mo, how Sunnyvale rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 41.1% income

rent-burdened

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 57.9% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 50.3% income

severely rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 28.1% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 22% income

affordable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 61.9% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 68.5% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 55.6% income

severely rent-burdened

By apartment size

Sunnyvale rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Sunnyvale

About renting in Sunnyvale, CA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Sunnyvale is $3,821/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $3,010/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,980/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $3,438/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $5,173/mo.

At 25% of local median household income ($186,170/yr), Sunnyvale ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 13.9% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Sunnyvale an affordable city for renters?

Sunnyvale is considered affordable for renters. At $3,821/mo, rent takes approximately 25% of the local median household income ($186,170/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Sunnyvale falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Sunnyvale?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $153,000/year (~$74/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,821/mo in Sunnyvale. The local median household income is $186,170/yr, meaning the typical Sunnyvale household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Sunnyvale?

Rent in Sunnyvale has increased 13.9% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Sunnyvale neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Sunnyvale are 94087 ($3,644/mo), 94089 ($3,671/mo), and 94085 ($3,907/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Sunnyvale is $3,821/mo.

How does Sunnyvale rent compare to other cities in California?

Sunnyvale is one of the pricier cities in California for rent, ranking #54 out of 387 tracked cities at $3,821/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Sunnyvale?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Sunnyvale ($3,821/mo): Campbell ($3,364/mo), East Palo Alto ($3,608/mo).

What percentage of Sunnyvale residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 56.2% of Sunnyvale households are renters, while 43.8% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Sunnyvale has a strong rental market.

How does Sunnyvale rent compare to the national average?

Sunnyvale's median rent of $3,821/mo is $1,856 (94%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within California, it ranks #54 out of 387 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

25%

AFFORDABLE

At $3,821/mo, rent takes ~25% of Sunnyvale's median household income ($186,170/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Sunnyvale 25%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the Sunnyvale affordability calculator →

Nearby cities