ZIP Code · CA

ZIP 90405

Part of Santa Monica, CA

Pop. 27,298·Los Angeles County·223rd most expensive ZIP in California

Median rent (all units)

$3,354/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.7%

Month-over-Month

+0.5%

vs US Median

+$1,422

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 90405 · $3,354

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

$2,280

1 BR

$2,550

2 BR

$3,180

3 BR

$4,030

4 BR+

$4,490

Research median

$3,180/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

April. Asking rents in ZIP 90405 usually run 0.3% below trend in April and 0.6% above it in September, about $30 a month apart at today's median. Based on 10 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 90405 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in June 2016.

Past year vs. the rest of California

Rent in ZIP 90405 changed +1.7% 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 90405 rose 15.9% while median household income rose 26.7% ($95,674 to $121,241). Income kept ahead of rent.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 90405 is 19.5% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 5 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($121,241) is $3,031 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($2,550); a 2-bedroom is $3,180.

Rank in Santa Monica

2nd cheapest of 5 ZIP codes in Santa Monica.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 90034, 4 miles away, rents for 19% less ($2,728/mo), about $7,500 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 90405. 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

$40,248/yr

At $3,354/mo median

Location

CitySanta Monica

StateCA

CountyLos Angeles County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (1.7% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+1.7% YoY, +0.5% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 90405 (Santa Monica, CA) is majority renter-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 70% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

27,298

Median income

$121,241

Median age

43.1

Renters

68.6%

Age distribution

16.1%

20.7%

28.9%

15.1%

19.2%

Under 1816.1%

18–3420.7%

35–5428.9%

55–6415.1%

65+19.2%

Gender

45.9%

54.1%

Male45.9%

Female54.1%

Race & ethnicity

70.1%

14.3%

White70.1%

Black5.7%

Hispanic14.3%

Asian7.8%

Other2.1%

Education (25+)

19.2%

70%

No HS diploma4.5%

HS diploma6.3%

Some college19.2%

Bachelor's+70%

Housing tenure

31.4%

68.6%

Owner31.4%

Renter68.6%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 90405 in Santa Monica, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,739 → $3,354

up 22.5%

Income

$97,010 → $121,241

up 25.0%

Population

27,367 → 27,298

down 0.3%

Renter share

68.3% → 68.6%

+0.3 pts

Bachelor's+

68.6% → 70%

+1.4 pts

Median age

41.7 → 43.1

+1.4 yrs

Compared with 2021, rent in ZIP 90405 in Santa Monica, CA has climbed by $615 per month, settling near $3,354 after starting the period at $2,739. On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 90405 in Santa Monica, CA now reports about $121,241, up from $97,010 in 2021. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and ZIP 90405 in Santa Monica, CA reflects that arc in its own way.

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 90405

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 90405 covers Santa Monica, CA. The median rent here is $3,354/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,550/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $3,180/mo.

At 33% of local median household income ($121,241/yr), ZIP 90405 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.7% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 90405?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $134,000/year (about $64/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,354/mo in ZIP 90405. The local median household income is $121,241/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 90405?

Rent in ZIP 90405 has risen 1.7% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in June 2016.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 90405?

Asking rents in ZIP 90405 are usually lowest in April, about 0.3% below their yearly trend, and highest in September, about 0.6% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $30 a month. This pattern comes from 10 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 90405?

No. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 90405 rose 15.9% while median household income rose 26.7%, from $95,674 to $121,241. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 90405 compare to other ZIPs in California?

ZIP 90405 is one of the pricier among California ZIP codes for rent, ranking #223 of 898 at $3,354/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 90405 changed +1.7%, against a typical +3.2% across the 819 California ZIP codes Zillow tracks.