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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 251 | West SacramentoCA | $2,263/mo | +3.5% | +13.7% | 29.1% | ↓17 from #234 |
| 252 | El CajonCA | $2,259/mo | +0.5% | +25.5% | 40.2% | ↓25 from #227 |
| 253 | DowneyCA | $2,257/mo | +2.7% | +24.8% | 29.9% | ↓20 from #233 |
| 254 | VictorvilleCA | $2,248/mo | +5.1% | +20.8% | 36.3% | ↓15 from #239 |
| 255 | HesperiaCA | $2,237/mo | +2.7% | -- | 37.2% | ↓18 from #237 |
| 256 | OlivehurstCA | $2,235/mo | -1.0% | -- | 32.2% | ↓31 from #225 |
| 257 | BellflowerCA | $2,221/mo | +1.9% | +27.1% | 33.9% | ↓21 from #236 |
| 258 | OrangevaleCA | $2,220/mo | +6.7% | -- | 26.7% | ↓14 from #244 |
| 259 | VallejoCA | $2,200/mo | +2.9% | +14.2% | 29.3% | ↓19 from #240 |
| 260 | YucaipaCA | $2,199/mo | +3.7% | -- | 29.1% | ↓19 from #241 |
| 261 | MaderaCA | $2,162/mo | +2.0% | -- | 40.6% | ↓19 from #242 |
| 262 | HawthorneCA | $2,151/mo | +2.3% | +21.7% | 34.0% | ↓19 from #243 |
| 263 | RosamondCA | $2,149/mo | 0.0% | -- | 32.5% | -- |
| 264 | ImperialCA | $2,138/mo | 0.0% | -- | 28.4% | -- |
| 265 | LompocCA | $2,126/mo | +3.0% | -- | 35.4% | ↓20 from #245 |
| 266 | East Los AngelesCA | $2,125/mo | +7.8% | -- | 37.1% | ↓9 from #257 |
| 267 | Fair OaksCA | $2,089/mo | +5.1% | +21.6% | 21.4% | ↓13 from #254 |
| 268 | Palm SpringsCA | $2,067/mo | +2.9% | +25.9% | 33.9% | ↓18 from #250 |
| 269 | TurlockCA | $2,064/mo | +1.8% | +21.6% | 29.8% | ↓22 from #247 |
| 270 | SacramentoCA | $2,045/mo | +1.4% | +15.5% | 28.1% | ↓22 from #248 |
| 271 | LynwoodCA | $2,045/mo | +8.8% | -- | 32.8% | ↓9 from #262 |
| 272 | MercedCA | $2,041/mo | +1.6% | +17.1% | 38.8% | ↓23 from #249 |
| 273 | Desert Hot SpringsCA | $2,038/mo | +3.7% | -- | 46.4% | ↓15 from #258 |
| 274 | StocktonCA | $2,032/mo | +1.8% | +15.5% | 30.5% | ↓21 from #253 |
| 275 | FlorinCA | $2,024/mo | +0.9% | -- | 34.2% | ↓23 from #252 |
| 276 | ModestoCA | $2,022/mo | +1.8% | +19.6% | 30.4% | ↓21 from #255 |
| 277 | HanfordCA | $2,008/mo | +3.7% | -- | 31.5% | ↓17 from #260 |
| 278 | AdelantoCA | $2,008/mo | +8.5% | -- | 35.1% | ↓12 from #266 |
| 279 | OakdaleCA | $2,006/mo | +1.6% | -- | 29.0% | ↓23 from #256 |
| 280 | RosemontCA | $1,996/mo | +2.3% | -- | 26.6% | ↓21 from #259 |
| 281 | Yuba CityCA | $1,993/mo | -0.8% | -- | 31.7% | ↓30 from #251 |
| 282 | San BernardinoCA | $1,971/mo | +3.1% | +33.1% | 35.1% | ↓21 from #261 |
| 283 | FresnoCA | $1,945/mo | +4.0% | +23.3% | 32.9% | ↓19 from #264 |
| 284 | ColtonCA | $1,929/mo | +2.8% | -- | 32.5% | ↓21 from #263 |
| 285 | UkiahCA | $1,921/mo | +7.3% | -- | 34.8% | ↓11 from #274 |
| 286 | McKinleyvilleCA | $1,908/mo | +3.9% | -- | 31.2% | ↓16 from #270 |
| 287 | BakersfieldCA | $1,901/mo | +3.1% | +29.1% | 28.3% | ↓18 from #269 |
| 288 | Apple ValleyCA | $1,899/mo | +2.4% | +26.7% | 32.6% | ↓23 from #265 |
| 289 | Citrus HeightsCA | $1,883/mo | +1.9% | +11.1% | 27.5% | ↓21 from #268 |
| 290 | BanningCA | $1,870/mo | +4.2% | -- | 36.3% | ↓17 from #273 |
| 291 | LemooreCA | $1,868/mo | +2.9% | -- | 26.8% | ↓20 from #271 |
| 292 | AtwaterCA | $1,853/mo | 0.0% | -- | 34.5% | -- |
| 293 | VisaliaCA | $1,839/mo | +2.1% | +26.5% | 26.9% | ↓21 from #272 |
| 294 | HemetCA | $1,839/mo | -0.5% | +19.9% | 38.2% | ↓27 from #267 |
| 295 | Yucca ValleyCA | $1,827/mo | +2.1% | -- | 36.8% | ↓20 from #275 |
| 296 | TulareCA | $1,792/mo | +2.5% | -- | 29.7% | ↓20 from #276 |
| 297 | Huntington ParkCA | $1,768/mo | +5.4% | -- | 35.4% | ↓19 from #278 |
| 298 | CarmichaelCA | $1,757/mo | +0.9% | +14.2% | 24.5% | ↓21 from #277 |
| 299 | ReddingCA | $1,647/mo | +4.6% | +27.7% | 28.0% | ↓20 from #279 |
| 300 | MaywoodCA | $1,635/mo | 0.0% | -- | 32.2% | -- |