ZIP 90402
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12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
March. Asking rents in ZIP 90402 usually run 1.2% below trend in March and 1.6% above it in June, about $197 a month apart at today's median. Based on 8 years of data.
Rent in ZIP 90402 is 0.5% below its high of $7,064 in June 2026, at $7,029 as of September 2026.
Rent in ZIP 90402 changed +4.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 819 California ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.2%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 90402 rose 38.2% while median household income rose 2.9% ($154,583 to $159,100). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in ZIP 90402 is 68.5% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent rose in 6 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($159,100) is $3,978 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($3,400); a 3-bedroom is $4,310.
5th cheapest of 5 ZIP codes in Santa Monica.
ZIP 90403, 1 mile away, rents for 48% less ($3,655/mo), about $40,500 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 90402. 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.
Who lives here
ZIP 90402 (Santa Monica, CA) is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 77.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How ZIP 90402 in Santa Monica, CA has changed in 5 years
Rent in ZIP 90402 in Santa Monica, CA has climbed 62.1% since 2021, going from about $4,336 per month to roughly $7,029 today. Household income in the area moved from $139,667 to $159,100 across the same window, up 13.9% versus 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 48.2 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 12,046 to 11,337 between 2021 and 2024, a 5.9% change. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in ZIP 90402 in Santa Monica, CA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Tips for renters in ZIP 90402
Last updated: October 17, 2026
ZIP code 90402 covers Santa Monica, CA. The median rent here is $7,029/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,730/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $3,400/mo.
At 53% of local median household income ($159,100/yr), ZIP 90402 ranks as expensive compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.5% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does ZIP 90402 compare to other ZIPs in California?
How does ZIP 90402 compare to the rest of Santa Monica?
At $7,029/mo, rent takes ~53% of ZIP 90402's median household income ($159,100/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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