ZIP Code · CA

ZIP 92139

Part of San Diego, CA

Pop. 34,703·San Diego County·188th most expensive ZIP in California

Median rent (all units)

$3,483/mo

Year-over-Year

+0.6%

Month-over-Month

-1.7%

vs US Median

+$1,551

Reported rents

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 92139 · $3,483

More expensive than 95% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,200

1 BR

$2,360

2 BR

$2,880

3 BR

$3,840

4 BR+

$4,650

Research median

$2,880/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

Past year vs. the rest of California

Rent in ZIP 92139 changed +0.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 819 California ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.2%.

Recent direction

Rent has fallen 2 months in a row, and rose in 6 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($95,653) is $2,391 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($2,360); a 2-bedroom is $2,880.

Rank in San Diego

26th cheapest of 33 ZIP codes in San Diego.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 92114, 2 miles away, rents for 18% less ($2,857/mo), about $7,500 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 92139. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$41,796/yr

At $3,483/mo median

Location

CitySan Diego

StateCA

CountySan Diego County

Rent Market Meter

Renter's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are softening (up only 0.6% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.6% YoY, -1.7% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 92139 (San Diego, CA) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 25.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

34,703

Median income

$95,653

Median age

36.9

Renters

42.4%

Age distribution

22.1%

25.4%

28.2%

13.6%

Under 1822.1%

18–3425.4%

35–5428.2%

55–6410.8%

65+13.6%

Gender

48.5%

51.5%

Male48.5%

Female51.5%

Race & ethnicity

18.5%

12.1%

38.7%

28.4%

White18.5%

Black12.1%

Hispanic38.7%

Asian28.4%

Other2.2%

Education (25+)

13.2%

28.6%

32.3%

25.8%

No HS diploma13.2%

HS diploma28.6%

Some college32.3%

Bachelor's+25.8%

Housing tenure

57.6%

42.4%

Owner57.6%

Renter42.4%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 92139 in San Diego, CA has changed in 5 years

Income

$80,594 → $95,653

up 18.7%

Population

35,364 → 34,703

down 1.9%

Renter share

43.1% → 42.4%

-0.7 pts

Bachelor's+

22.9% → 25.8%

+2.9 pts

Median age

35.8 → 36.9

+1.1 yrs

Median household income rose from $80,594 to $95,653 between 2021 and 2024, a 18.7% shift. The population has contracted by 1.9% since 2021, moving from about 35,364 residents to roughly 34,703. College-educated residents now make up 25.8% of adults here, versus 22.9% in 2021.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 92139

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 92139 covers San Diego, CA. The median rent here is $3,483/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,360/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,880/mo.

At 44% of local median household income ($95,653/yr), ZIP 92139 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.6% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 92139?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $139,000/year (about $67/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,483/mo in ZIP 92139. The local median household income is $95,653/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 92139?

Rent in ZIP 92139 has risen 0.6% over the past year.

How does ZIP 92139 compare to other ZIPs in California?

ZIP 92139 is one of the pricier among California ZIP codes for rent, ranking #188 of 898 at $3,483/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 92139 changed +0.6%, against a typical +3.2% across the 819 California ZIP codes Zillow tracks.