Most expensive cities for renters in California
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Data as of September 2026. Median rent from RentDataNow's monthly city data (Zillow's rent index where Zillow covers the city). Rank a year ago compares the same cities' rent 12 months earlier. Updated monthly. Download this list (CSV)
Best value (RRS)Overheated (RRS)Most affordableMost expensiveRent fallingRent risingBest rent/incomeMost rent-burdenedRecord-high rentSeasonal swingsRent vs. income
310 cities
| Rank | City | Median rent | 1-yr change | 5-yr change | Rent/income | Vs. a year ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | CarlsbadCA | $3,531/mo | +5.0% | +27.5% | 29.7% | ↓1 from #50 |
| 52 | WindsorCA | $3,528/mo | 0.0% | -- | 31.6% | -- |
| 53 | Culver CityCA | $3,521/mo | +2.4% | +18.6% | 36.0% | ↓8 from #45 |
| 54 | Santa MonicaCA | $3,516/mo | +1.9% | +17.6% | 36.7% | ↓11 from #43 |
| 55 | Aliso ViejoCA | $3,484/mo | +4.9% | +26.1% | 29.4% | same |
| 56 | Redondo BeachCA | $3,483/mo | +2.6% | +22.6% | 27.8% | ↓10 from #46 |
| 57 | CampbellCA | $3,433/mo | +7.7% | +24.5% | 28.4% | ↑13 from #70 |
| 58 | BrentwoodCA | $3,420/mo | +4.4% | +17.3% | 28.8% | ↑1 from #59 |
| 59 | Santa CruzCA | $3,418/mo | +4.0% | +22.6% | 35.5% | ↓2 from #57 |
| 60 | ArcadiaCA | $3,412/mo | +2.6% | +27.1% | 36.1% | ↓8 from #52 |
| 61 | San ClementeCA | $3,411/mo | +5.0% | +32.2% | 29.2% | ↑2 from #63 |
| 62 | LakewoodCA | $3,401/mo | +5.8% | +35.0% | 34.2% | ↑3 from #65 |
| 63 | FremontCA | $3,388/mo | +6.2% | +19.7% | 22.4% | ↑6 from #69 |
| 64 | CerritosCA | $3,385/mo | +1.7% | +24.2% | 30.0% | ↓13 from #51 |
| 65 | LafayetteCA | $3,372/mo | -0.3% | +8.2% | 17.7% | ↓18 from #47 |
| 66 | Thousand OaksCA | $3,357/mo | +1.6% | +19.1% | 29.7% | ↓10 from #56 |
| 67 | American CanyonCA | $3,347/mo | 0.0% | -- | 33.0% | -- |
| 68 | San BrunoCA | $3,346/mo | +10.1% | +27.1% | 28.4% | ↑15 from #83 |
| 69 | Laguna NiguelCA | $3,343/mo | +7.5% | +25.4% | 28.6% | ↑6 from #75 |
| 70 | WatsonvilleCA | $3,332/mo | -1.3% | -- | 51.0% | ↓21 from #49 |
| 71 | Granite BayCA | $3,332/mo | 0.0% | -- | 21.7% | -- |
| 72 | DublinCA | $3,325/mo | +6.3% | +14.1% | 18.6% | ↑2 from #74 |
| 73 | PowayCA | $3,325/mo | +4.6% | -- | 26.9% | ↓2 from #71 |
| 74 | San MarcosCA | $3,311/mo | +3.3% | +23.3% | 36.3% | ↓7 from #67 |
| 75 | Temple CityCA | $3,298/mo | -0.8% | -- | 37.9% | ↓21 from #54 |
| 76 | Diamond BarCA | $3,294/mo | +3.0% | +27.6% | 36.5% | ↓8 from #68 |
| 77 | OakleyCA | $3,294/mo | +2.7% | -- | 28.7% | ↓11 from #66 |
| 78 | West HollywoodCA | $3,292/mo | +1.1% | +15.5% | 40.7% | ↓16 from #62 |
| 79 | MoorparkCA | $3,289/mo | +0.9% | -- | 26.6% | ↓18 from #61 |
| 80 | ChinoCA | $3,286/mo | +1.5% | +12.1% | 37.7% | ↓16 from #64 |
| 81 | El SegundoCA | $3,253/mo | +2.9% | +24.4% | 25.9% | ↓8 from #73 |
| 82 | NipomoCA | $3,248/mo | 0.0% | -- | 35.4% | -- |
| 83 | TustinCA | $3,229/mo | +1.7% | +18.9% | 34.4% | ↓11 from #72 |
| 84 | HerculesCA | $3,209/mo | +7.7% | -- | 29.8% | ↑4 from #88 |
| 85 | FontanaCA | $3,191/mo | +2.9% | -- | 37.2% | ↓9 from #76 |
| 86 | La MiradaCA | $3,191/mo | +4.4% | -- | 35.0% | ↓6 from #80 |
| 87 | PleasantonCA | $3,175/mo | +7.3% | +16.5% | 20.0% | ↑4 from #91 |
| 88 | Lake ForestCA | $3,166/mo | +3.4% | +24.7% | 28.1% | ↓10 from #78 |
| 89 | San RafaelCA | $3,166/mo | +4.0% | +18.9% | 31.8% | ↓8 from #81 |
| 90 | ClaremontCA | $3,128/mo | +2.2% | -- | 29.9% | ↓11 from #79 |
| 91 | Costa MesaCA | $3,121/mo | +3.4% | +23.5% | 33.6% | ↓7 from #84 |
| 92 | San RamonCA | $3,121/mo | +6.4% | +16.0% | 19.1% | same |
| 93 | Huntington BeachCA | $3,105/mo | +4.2% | +23.5% | 30.8% | ↓4 from #89 |
| 94 | GilroyCA | $3,099/mo | +3.8% | -- | 27.9% | ↓7 from #87 |
| 95 | Chino HillsCA | $3,085/mo | +1.4% | +13.6% | 29.3% | ↓13 from #82 |
| 96 | Laguna WoodsCA | $3,081/mo | +5.0% | -- | 62.4% | ↓3 from #93 |
| 97 | El Dorado HillsCA | $3,070/mo | +6.9% | +19.4% | 22.3% | ↑7 from #104 |
| 98 | LivermoreCA | $3,066/mo | +5.5% | +15.5% | 22.9% | ↑1 from #99 |
| 99 | MoragaCA | $3,060/mo | 0.0% | -- | 17.0% | -- |
| 100 | LathropCA | $3,056/mo | +1.5% | -- | 29.0% | ↓15 from #85 |