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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 201 | ConcordCA | $2,569/mo | +3.0% | +16.5% | 28.4% | ↓15 from #186 |
| 202 | West CovinaCA | $2,552/mo | +1.4% | +18.1% | 30.3% | ↓20 from #182 |
| 203 | RichmondCA | $2,538/mo | +3.2% | +12.2% | 31.9% | ↓8 from #195 |
| 204 | Rohnert ParkCA | $2,533/mo | +6.0% | +18.0% | 30.6% | ↓1 from #203 |
| 205 | AzusaCA | $2,532/mo | +2.2% | +32.6% | 33.5% | ↓14 from #191 |
| 206 | SalinasCA | $2,530/mo | +5.8% | +28.3% | 33.0% | ↓5 from #201 |
| 207 | MantecaCA | $2,530/mo | +2.4% | +12.7% | 31.3% | ↓14 from #193 |
| 208 | RosevilleCA | $2,521/mo | +1.6% | +11.8% | 25.4% | ↓19 from #189 |
| 209 | San LeandroCA | $2,517/mo | +3.2% | +14.8% | 29.8% | ↓11 from #198 |
| 210 | RamonaCA | $2,515/mo | +3.0% | -- | 28.1% | ↓13 from #197 |
| 211 | Santa MariaCA | $2,509/mo | +1.1% | +8.2% | 35.5% | ↓21 from #190 |
| 212 | MartinezCA | $2,509/mo | +1.7% | +15.0% | 23.6% | ↓18 from #194 |
| 213 | InglewoodCA | $2,487/mo | +0.6% | +20.6% | 41.0% | ↓21 from #192 |
| 214 | LancasterCA | $2,460/mo | +0.9% | +20.4% | 36.2% | ↓15 from #199 |
| 215 | BeniciaCA | $2,455/mo | -0.2% | +12.9% | 24.3% | ↓19 from #196 |
| 216 | El MonteCA | $2,451/mo | +1.6% | -- | 43.2% | ↓16 from #200 |
| 217 | AtascaderoCA | $2,445/mo | +5.3% | -- | 32.1% | ↓2 from #215 |
| 218 | PittsburgCA | $2,429/mo | +3.7% | +18.4% | 29.2% | ↓7 from #211 |
| 219 | RiversideCA | $2,427/mo | +2.5% | +19.0% | 32.0% | ↓13 from #206 |
| 220 | National CityCA | $2,426/mo | +3.9% | -- | 43.6% | ↓7 from #213 |
| 221 | FairfieldCA | $2,425/mo | +2.3% | +14.3% | 28.6% | ↓16 from #205 |
| 222 | Rowland HeightsCA | $2,421/mo | +17.7% | +33.5% | 33.9% | ↑24 from #246 |
| 223 | Long BeachCA | $2,412/mo | +2.5% | +19.1% | 33.1% | ↓13 from #210 |
| 224 | Moreno ValleyCA | $2,412/mo | +3.6% | +18.9% | 31.0% | ↓10 from #214 |
| 225 | Rancho CordovaCA | $2,412/mo | +2.4% | +17.7% | 32.3% | ↓16 from #209 |
| 226 | RocklinCA | $2,408/mo | +2.2% | +10.2% | 23.3% | ↓19 from #207 |
| 227 | WhittierCA | $2,402/mo | +0.8% | +25.9% | 29.7% | ↓23 from #204 |
| 228 | RedlandsCA | $2,398/mo | +1.8% | +19.4% | 27.4% | ↓20 from #208 |
| 229 | DavisCA | $2,394/mo | +4.3% | +22.6% | 31.9% | ↓12 from #217 |
| 230 | UplandCA | $2,392/mo | +4.4% | +17.9% | 27.1% | ↓12 from #218 |
| 231 | AntelopeCA | $2,389/mo | -0.1% | +7.3% | 28.9% | ↓29 from #202 |
| 232 | ClovisCA | $2,381/mo | +1.7% | +17.7% | 28.8% | ↓20 from #212 |
| 233 | South Lake TahoeCA | $2,377/mo | +6.3% | +21.6% | 34.8% | ↓3 from #230 |
| 234 | San PabloCA | $2,375/mo | 0.0% | -- | 35.9% | -- |
| 235 | San JacintoCA | $2,366/mo | +5.2% | -- | 35.2% | ↓9 from #226 |
| 236 | Los BanosCA | $2,354/mo | +2.0% | -- | 41.4% | ↓20 from #216 |
| 237 | Lake ElsinoreCA | $2,348/mo | +3.4% | +25.8% | 27.7% | ↓14 from #223 |
| 238 | ShafterCA | $2,344/mo | 0.0% | -- | 39.5% | -- |
| 239 | Cathedral CityCA | $2,343/mo | +7.7% | +25.9% | 38.2% | ↓1 from #238 |
| 240 | GardenaCA | $2,334/mo | +3.0% | +28.5% | 33.0% | ↓16 from #224 |
| 241 | WestmontCA | $2,333/mo | +2.5% | -- | 55.4% | ↓19 from #222 |
| 242 | PomonaCA | $2,319/mo | +1.7% | +25.0% | 35.0% | ↓22 from #220 |
| 243 | Loma LindaCA | $2,317/mo | +3.1% | +23.4% | 33.8% | ↓15 from #228 |
| 244 | IndioCA | $2,316/mo | +3.6% | +29.5% | 36.0% | ↓15 from #229 |
| 245 | ComptonCA | $2,315/mo | +4.0% | -- | 35.4% | ↓14 from #231 |
| 246 | South GateCA | $2,291/mo | +0.5% | -- | 36.9% | ↓25 from #221 |
| 247 | Pico RiveraCA | $2,291/mo | +0.2% | -- | 31.2% | ↓28 from #219 |
| 248 | Santa PaulaCA | $2,288/mo | 0.0% | -- | 34.6% | -- |
| 249 | WoodlandCA | $2,287/mo | +3.4% | +24.4% | 30.4% | ↓17 from #232 |
| 250 | LodiCA | $2,278/mo | +4.5% | +21.8% | 30.9% | ↓15 from #235 |