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Rental Market Trends in San Diego, CA

What is the average rent in San Diego, CA?

$2,383/month

Average Rent

652 Sq Ft

Average Apartment Size

-0.4%

Decrease in the Last Year

As of January 2026, the average rent in San Diego, CA is $2,383 per month. This is 47% higher than the national average rent price of $1,625/month, making San Diego one of the most expensive cities in the US. When you rent an apartment in San Diego, you can expect to pay about $2,032 per month for a studio, $2,383 for a one-bedroom apartment, and around $2,955 for a two-bedroom apartment. If you opt for a three-bedroom rental, you could pay $3,826 or more.

Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Studio
$2,032/month
462 Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$2,383/month
652 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$2,955/month
958 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$3,826/month
1,212 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$2,306/month
461 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$3,763/month
924 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$6,966/month
1,497 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$11,878/month
2,500 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$3,309/month
636 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$5,022/month
1,050 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$7,359/month
1,363 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$8,540/month
1,553 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$2,551/month
569 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$4,074/month
1,172 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$4,961/month
1,452 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$5,787/month
1,555 Sq Ft

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

In the past year, rent has decreased by 0.4%, which averages out to $9 less per month.

Market Trends Over Time   The chart below compares average rent prices to the previous year during the same time period.
Last Updated January 2026
Legend
2025 2026
Market Trends Over Time
Rent Ranges in San Diego, CA
Last Updated January 2026
Above $2,000
Most rental prices fall within this range
Rent Ranges in San Diego, CA
Percentage*
Rent Range
1% Below $700/month
9% $700 - $1,000/month
28% $1,001 - $1,500/month
24% $1,501 - $2,000/month
38% Above $2,000/month

Rent by Neighborhood

Last Updated Today
  • Most Affordable
  • Most Expensive
  • Most Available

What are the most affordable neighborhoods in San Diego?

Based on current rent prices, Redwood Village-Rolando Park, Collwood Park and San Ysidro South are the most affordable neighborhoods in San Diego.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Redwood Village-Rolando Park
$1,883/month
548 Sq Ft
Collwood Park
$1,919/month
469 Sq Ft
San Ysidro South
$1,928/month
756 Sq Ft
Colina Del Sol
$1,936/month
538 Sq Ft
Bay Terraces
$1,951/month
650 Sq Ft
Paradise Hills
$1,978/month
653 Sq Ft
Rolando
$1,993/month
571 Sq Ft
El Cerrito
$2,025/month
568 Sq Ft
Clairemont Gardens
$2,045/month
650 Sq Ft
Corridor
$2,062/month
529 Sq Ft

What are the most expensive neighborhoods in San Diego?

Based on current rent prices, Mission Beach, Little Italy and North City are the most expensive neighborhoods in San Diego.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Mission Beach
$4,110/month
561 Sq Ft
Little Italy
$3,833/month
728 Sq Ft
North City
$3,663/month
710 Sq Ft
Pacific Highlands Ranch
$3,663/month
710 Sq Ft
Harborview
$3,659/month
800 Sq Ft
East Bluff del Mar Highlands
$3,601/month
751 Sq Ft
Fenton Carroll Canyon
$3,582/month
1,122 Sq Ft
Bankers Hill
$3,552/month
747 Sq Ft
Marina District
$3,470/month
705 Sq Ft
Carmel Valley
$3,456/month
780 Sq Ft

Which San Diego neighborhoods have the most rentals available?

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

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Balboa Park
$3,148/month
694 Sq Ft
Downtown San Diego
$3,359/month
726 Sq Ft
East County
$2,347/month
656 Sq Ft
Mission Valley
$2,873/month
691 Sq Ft
Marina District
$3,470/month
705 Sq Ft
Kearny Mesa
$3,344/month
756 Sq Ft
Uptown San Diego
$3,101/month
687 Sq Ft
East Village
$3,077/month
708 Sq Ft
Hillcrest
$3,110/month
698 Sq Ft
Little Italy
$3,833/month
728 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 $2,383, you’ll want to make about $7,943 per month or $95,316 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 45.8% higher than the national average. Generally, housing in San Diego is 109.8% more expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $2,032 - $3,826. You can expect to pay 11.2% more for groceries, 49.8% more for utilities, and 40.5% more for transportation.

City

San Diego, CA

14,111 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.

Explore the Area Guide for San Diego, CA

Apartment Averages

Redwood Village-Rolando Park

San Diego, CA

Mission Beach

San Diego, CA

Studio
$1,393/month
$1,187/month
One Bedroom
$1,650/month
$1,709/month
Two Bedroom
$1,776/month
$2,982/month
Three Bedroom
$2,095/month
$7,633/month
Search
Search

Nearby City Rent Trends

  • La Mesa Average Rent
  • Santee Average Rent
  • Lemon Grove Average Rent
  • El Cajon Average Rent
  • Pacific Beach Average Rent
  • Spring Valley Average Rent
  • La Jolla Average Rent

Apartment communities in San Diego we think you'll love

Broadway Towers

Broadway Towers

1150 E St,
San Diego, CA 92101

$2,283 - $4,929

1-3 Beds

IMT Mission Valley

IMT Mission Valley

10343 San Diego Mission Rd,
San Diego, CA 92108

$2,585 - $2,975

1-2 Beds

Cedros Gardens

Cedros Gardens

330 S Cedros Ave,
Solana Beach, CA 92075

$4,500 - $8,500

1-2 Beds

Del Oro on Broadway

Del Oro on Broadway

986 Broadway,
Chula Vista, CA 91911

$2,595 - $3,445

1-2 Beds

Property Management Companies in San Diego, CA

Greystar
Greystar
  • 3,457

    Communities

  • 953,317

    Units

  • 889

    Cities

75 Communities in San Diego
R.A. Snyder Properties, Inc.
R.A. Snyder Properties, Inc.
  • 53

    Communities

  • 4,373

    Units

  • 15

    Cities

40 Communities in San Diego
Sunrise Management
Sunrise Management
  • 85

    Communities

  • 9,541

    Units

  • 36

    Cities

29 Communities in San Diego
Torrey Pines Property Management
Torrey Pines Property Management
  • 31

    Communities

  • 1,699

    Units

  • 10

    Cities

23 Communities in San Diego
CONAM Management Corporation
CONAM Management Corporation
  • 161

    Communities

  • 28,252

    Units

  • 81

    Cities

16 Communities in San Diego
FairGrove Property Management
FairGrove Property Management
  • 32

    Communities

  • 2,472

    Units

  • 16

    Cities

16 Communities in San Diego
Hanken Cono Assad & Co., Inc.
Hanken Cono Assad & Co., Inc.
  • 24

    Communities

  • 3,042

    Units

  • 8

    Cities

15 Communities in San Diego
Whittington Property Management
Whittington Property Management
  • 15

    Communities

  • 1,007

    Units

  • 5

    Cities

13 Communities in San Diego

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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 November 2025.

* Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.

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Equal Housing Opportunity