ZIP Code · CA

ZIP 90404

Part of Santa Monica, CA

Pop. 22,978·Los Angeles County·241st most expensive ZIP in California

Median rent (all units)

$3,299/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.4%

Month-over-Month

-0.3%

vs US Median

+$1,367

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 90404 · $3,299

More expensive than 94% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,130

1 BR

$2,390

2 BR

$2,980

3 BR

$3,780

4 BR+

$4,210

Research median

$2,980/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

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 90404 is 0.3% below its high of $3,309 in July 2026, at $3,299 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of California

Rent in ZIP 90404 changed +1.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 819 California ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.2%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 90404 rose 12.1% while median household income rose 21.1% ($78,542 to $95,139). Income kept ahead of rent.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 90404 is 17.5% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($95,139) is $2,378 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a studio ($2,130); a 1-bedroom is $2,390.

Rank in Santa Monica

1st cheapest of 5 ZIP codes in Santa Monica.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 90034, 4 miles away, rents for 17% less ($2,728/mo), about $6,900 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 90404. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$39,588/yr

At $3,299/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 (+1.4% YoY, -0.3% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 90404 (Santa Monica, CA) is majority renter-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 61.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

22,978

Median income

$95,139

Median age

40.5

Renters

78.6%

Age distribution

13%

27.8%

26.9%

12.9%

19.4%

Under 1813%

18–3427.8%

35–5426.9%

55–6412.9%

65+19.4%

Gender

46.7%

53.3%

Male46.7%

Female53.3%

Race & ethnicity

50.4%

24.1%

White50.4%

Black10%

Hispanic24.1%

Asian11.5%

Other4%

Education (25+)

12.5%

16.6%

61.1%

No HS diploma9.8%

HS diploma12.5%

Some college16.6%

Bachelor's+61.1%

Housing tenure

21.4%

78.6%

Owner21.4%

Renter78.6%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 90404 in Santa Monica, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,675 → $3,299

up 23.3%

Income

$74,591 → $95,139

up 27.5%

Population

23,460 → 22,978

down 2.1%

Renter share

78.3% → 78.6%

+0.3 pts

Bachelor's+

56.8% → 61.1%

+4.3 pts

Median age

38.1 → 40.5

+2.4 yrs

The median rent in ZIP 90404 in Santa Monica, CA stood at $2,675 in 2021 and currently runs about $3,299, reflecting a 23.3% increase over the period. Census figures show median household income at $95,139 today, compared with $74,591 five years earlier. On paper, paychecks moved up faster than rent, which softens the affordability squeeze versus the 2021 baseline. The population has contracted by 2.1% since 2021, moving from about 23,460 residents to roughly 22,978. College-educated residents now make up 61.1% of adults here, versus 56.8% in 2021. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.

Community

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About renting in ZIP 90404

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 90404 covers Santa Monica, CA. The median rent here is $3,299/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,390/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,980/mo.

At 42% of local median household income ($95,139/yr), ZIP 90404 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 90404?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $132,000/year (about $63/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,299/mo in ZIP 90404. The local median household income is $95,139/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 90404?

Rent in ZIP 90404 has risen 1.4% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0.3% below its high of $3,309 in July 2026.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 90404?

No. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 90404 rose 12.1% while median household income rose 21.1%, from $78,542 to $95,139. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 90404 compare to other ZIPs in California?

ZIP 90404 is one of the pricier among California ZIP codes for rent, ranking #241 of 898 at $3,299/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 90404 changed +1.4%, against a typical +3.2% across the 819 California ZIP codes Zillow tracks.