ZIP Code · CA

ZIP 90401

Part of Santa Monica, CA

Pop. 8,101·Los Angeles County·141st most expensive ZIP in California

Median rent (all units)

$3,716/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.3%

Month-over-Month

+0.1%

vs US Median

+$1,784

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 90401 · $3,716

More expensive than 96% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,660

1 BR

$2,980

2 BR

$3,720

3 BR

$4,720

4 BR+

$5,250

Research median

$3,720/mo

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

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

December. Asking rents in ZIP 90401 usually run 0.9% below trend in December and 0.8% above it in March, about $63 a month apart at today's median. Based on 7 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 90401 is 0.4% below its high of $3,732 in March 2025, at $3,716 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of California

Rent in ZIP 90401 changed +1.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 819 California ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.2%.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 90401 is 9.4% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($110,385) is $2,760 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a studio ($2,660); a 1-bedroom is $2,980.

Rank in Santa Monica

4th cheapest of 5 ZIP codes in Santa Monica.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 90404, 1 mile away, rents for 11% less ($3,299/mo), about $5,000 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 90401. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$44,592/yr

At $3,716/mo median

Location

CitySanta Monica

StateCA

CountyLos Angeles County

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (+1.3% YoY, +0.1% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 90401 (Santa Monica, CA) is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income above the national average, 77.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

8,101

Median income

$110,385

Median age

36.9

Renters

94.8%

Age distribution

39.8%

32.9%

12.5%

Under 185.4%

18–3439.8%

35–5432.9%

55–649.3%

65+12.5%

Gender

49.1%

50.9%

Male49.1%

Female50.9%

Race & ethnicity

67.8%

12.2%

White67.8%

Black3.8%

Hispanic12.2%

Asian10%

Other6.3%

Education (25+)

13.6%

77.3%

No HS diploma3%

HS diploma6.1%

Some college13.6%

Bachelor's+77.3%

Housing tenure

94.8%

Owner5.2%

Renter94.8%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 90401 in Santa Monica, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$3,024 → $3,716

up 22.9%

Income

$90,682 → $110,385

up 21.7%

Population

7,482 → 8,101

up 8.3%

Renter share

94% → 94.8%

+0.8 pts

Bachelor's+

71% → 77.3%

+6.3 pts

Since 2021, the typical rent in ZIP 90401 in Santa Monica, CA has increased from $3,024 to $3,716, a 22.9% change over five years. Median household income rose from $90,682 to $110,385 between 2021 and 2024, a 21.7% shift. The population has grown by 8.3% since 2021, moving from about 7,482 residents to roughly 8,101. College-educated residents now make up 77.3% of adults here, versus 71% in 2021. Taken together, the five-year picture in ZIP 90401 in Santa Monica, CA reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

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About renting in ZIP 90401

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 90401 covers Santa Monica, CA. The median rent here is $3,716/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,980/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $3,720/mo.

At 40% of local median household income ($110,385/yr), ZIP 90401 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.3% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 90401?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $149,000/year (about $72/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,716/mo in ZIP 90401. The local median household income is $110,385/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 90401?

Rent in ZIP 90401 has risen 1.3% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0.4% below its high of $3,732 in March 2025.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 90401?

Asking rents in ZIP 90401 are usually lowest in December, about 0.9% below their yearly trend, and highest in March, about 0.8% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $63 a month. This pattern comes from 7 years of Zillow rent data.

How does ZIP 90401 compare to other ZIPs in California?

ZIP 90401 is one of the pricier among California ZIP codes for rent, ranking #141 of 898 at $3,716/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 90401 changed +1.3%, against a typical +3.2% across the 819 California ZIP codes Zillow tracks.