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Rental Market Trends in San Diego, CA

Updated July 2026

The average rent in San Diego, CA is $2,434/month.

Rent in San Diego is 46% higher than the national average rent of $1,663/month, making this one of the more expensive cities statewide.

$2,434/month

Average Rent

652 Sq Ft

Average Size

+0.7%

Change / Year

12,263

Available Apartments

San Diego rent varies by unit size and layout:

  • Studio apartments in San Diego average $2,050 per month.
  • One-bedroom apartments in San Diego average $2,434 per month.
  • Two-bedroom apartments in San Diego average $3,073 per month.
  • Three-bedroom apartments in San Diego average $3,947 or more per month.

Average Rent by Home Type

Bedrooms
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Studio
$2,050/month
462 Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$2,434/month
652 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$3,073/month
963 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$3,947/month
1,216 Sq Ft
Bedrooms
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$2,274/month
525 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$4,161/month
910 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$6,720/month
1,516 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$15,289/month
2,726 Sq Ft
Bedrooms
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$3,215/month
679 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$5,054/month
1,094 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$7,799/month
1,448 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$9,974/month
2,115 Sq Ft
Bedrooms
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$2,660/month
534 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$3,959/month
1,120 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$4,977/month
1,575 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$5,976/month
1,835 Sq Ft
View San Diego Apartments

How much has average rent changed in San Diego, CA?

In the past year, rent has increased by 0.7%, which averages out to $18 more per month.

Market Trends Over Time

July 2026

2025 2026
Market Trends Over Time

Rent Ranges in San Diego, CA

July 2026
Above $2,000
Most rental prices fall within this range
Rent Ranges in San Diego, CA
Percentage*
Rent Range
1% Below $700/month
8% $700 - $1,000/month
27% $1,001 - $1,500/month
25% $1,501 - $2,000/month
39% Above $2,000/month

Rent by Neighborhood

  • Most Affordable
  • Most Expensive
  • Most Available

What are the most affordable neighborhoods in San Diego?

Based on current rent prices, Teralta East, Redwood Village-Rolando Park and Bay Terraces are the most affordable neighborhoods in San Diego.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Teralta East
$1,544/month
443 Sq Ft
Redwood Village-Rolando Park
$1,927/month
637 Sq Ft
Bay Terraces
$1,938/month
636 Sq Ft
Egger Highlands
$1,944/month
614 Sq Ft
El Cerrito
$1,957/month
605 Sq Ft
Paradise Hills
$1,965/month
632 Sq Ft
Normal Heights
$1,968/month
546 Sq Ft
Rolando
$2,094/month
541 Sq Ft
Otay Mesa West
$2,136/month
634 Sq Ft
East County
$2,214/month
659 Sq Ft

What are the most expensive neighborhoods in San Diego?

Based on current rent prices, Bankers Hill, Columbia and Little Italy are the most expensive neighborhoods in San Diego.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Bankers Hill
$4,209/month
694 Sq Ft
Columbia
$3,800/month
742 Sq Ft
Little Italy
$3,724/month
752 Sq Ft
Civic Core
$3,653/month
745 Sq Ft
Carmel Valley
$3,627/month
795 Sq Ft
Torrey Highlands
$3,402/month
862 Sq Ft
Serra Mesa
$3,348/month
759 Sq Ft
Kearny Mesa
$3,346/month
751 Sq Ft
Cortez
$3,326/month
727 Sq Ft
Hillcrest
$3,267/month
676 Sq Ft

Which San Diego neighborhoods have the most rentals available?

The neighborhoods in San Diego with the most apartments available are Downtown San Diego, East Village and East County .

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Downtown San Diego
$3,259/month
725 Sq Ft
East Village
$3,022/month
712 Sq Ft
East County
$2,214/month
659 Sq Ft
Mission Valley
$2,875/month
686 Sq Ft
Kearny Mesa
$3,346/month
751 Sq Ft
Hillcrest
$3,267/month
676 Sq Ft
Little Italy
$3,724/month
752 Sq Ft
Serra Mesa
$3,348/month
759 Sq Ft
Civic Core
$3,653/month
745 Sq Ft
Columbia
$3,800/month
742 Sq Ft
This information is based on data collected by CoStar Group researchers.†

What salary do I need to live comfortably in San Diego, CA?

Because the average rent in San Diego is $2,434, you’ll want to make about $8,113 per month or $97,356 per year. The general guideline is to pay no more than 30 percent of your monthly income on rent. However, you’ll want to consider additional factors, such as your monthly bills and other expenses. Use our rent affordability calculator to help determine how much to budget for rent.

Cost of Living

The cost of living in San Diego, CA is 47.1% higher than the national average. Generally, housing in San Diego is 107.8% more expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $2,050 - $3,947. You can expect to pay 13.1% more for groceries, 50.5% more for utilities, and 43.3% more for transportation.

City

San Diego, CA

12,263 Available Apartments for Rent

Search for Nearby Apartments

How does San Diego, CA compare to other nearby cities and neighborhoods?

Use the tool below to compare San Diego, CA to other nearby cities and neighborhoods. The Apartments.com neighborhood guides provide you with insight into the area’s transportation, things to do, and more.

View the San Diego Area Guide

Apartment Averages

Teralta East

San Diego, CA

Bankers Hill

San Diego, CA

Studio
$1,943/month
$1,985/month
One Bedroom
$1,140/month
$2,754/month
Two Bedroom
$1,271/month
$4,711/month
Three Bedroom
$1,681/month
$4,061/month
View Rentals
View Rentals

Compare Rent Trends Nearby

Get a clearer picture of the area by viewing rent trends in nearby cities.

  • La Mesa

    La Mesa

  • Lemon Grove

    Lemon Grove

  • El Cajon

    El Cajon

  • Pacific Beach

    Pacific Beach

  • Spring Valley

    Spring Valley

  • La Jolla

    La Jolla

Apartment Communities in San Diego We Think You'll Love

Broadway Towers

Broadway Towers

1150 E St,
San Diego, CA 92101

1-3 Beds | $2,635 - $4,957

Elowen

Elowen

8555 Aero Dr,
San Diego, CA 92123

Studio - 3 Beds | $2,657 - $6,290

IMT Mission Valley

IMT Mission Valley

10343 San Diego Mission Rd,
San Diego, CA 92108

1-2 Beds | $2,415 - $3,245

AMLI Aero

AMLI Aero

3585 Aero Ct,
San Diego, CA 92123

Studio - 3 Beds | $2,880 - $6,738

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in San Diego?

The average rent in San Diego is $2,434 per month, which is 46.4% higher than the national average of $1,663.

What is the average rent for a house in San Diego?

The average rent for a house in San Diego, CA is $6,720 per month.

What is the average rent for a townhome in San Diego?

The average rent for a townhome in San Diego, CA is $3,959 per month.

What is the average rent for a condo in San Diego?

The average rent for a condo in San Diego, CA is $3,215 per month.

Are rents going up or down in San Diego?

Rents in San Diego, CA are increasing, with prices up 0.7% year-over-year and $18 more per month.

What rent range is most common in San Diego?

In San Diego, CA, 39% of apartments fall above $2,000/month, though prices may vary depending on location and other factors.

United States California San Diego Rental Trends

Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in June 2026.

Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.

* Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.

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Equal Housing Opportunity

© 2026 CoStar Group, Inc.

Equal Housing Opportunity