ZIP 92101
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Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
January. Asking rents in ZIP 92101 usually run 0.7% below trend in January and 0.7% above it in August, about $41 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in ZIP 92101 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in ZIP 92101 changed +1.9% 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 92101 rose 25.6% while median household income rose 27.3% ($71,925 to $91,566). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in ZIP 92101 is 26.8% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($91,566) is $2,289 a month. That is less than HUD's Fair Market Rent for a studio ($3,290).
14th cheapest of 33 ZIP codes in San Diego.
ZIP 92102, 3 miles away, rents for 21% less ($2,301/mo), about $7,400 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 92101. 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 92101 (San Diego, CA) is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income above the national average, 58.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How ZIP 92101 in San Diego, CA has changed in 5 years
Rent in ZIP 92101 in San Diego, CA has increased 23.2% since 2021, going from about $2,367 per month to roughly $2,917 today. Household income in the area moved from $78,092 to $91,566 across the same window, up 17.3% versus 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 5.9 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 43,096 to 51,805 between 2021 and 2024, a 20.2% change. About 77.4% of households rent today, against 74.4% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 55.1% to 58.1%. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in ZIP 92101 in San Diego, CA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Tips for renters in ZIP 92101
Last updated: October 17, 2026
ZIP code 92101 covers San Diego, CA. The median rent here is $2,917/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,203/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,690/mo.
At 38% of local median household income ($91,566/yr), ZIP 92101 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.9% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does ZIP 92101 compare to other ZIPs in California?
How does ZIP 92101 compare to the rest of San Diego?
At $2,917/mo, rent takes ~38% of ZIP 92101's median household income ($91,566/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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