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Rental Market Trends in San Diego, CA

What is the average rent in San Diego, CA?

$2,409/month

Average Rent

652 Sq Ft

Average Apartment Size

-0.3%

Decrease in the Last Year

San Diego, CA Rental Market Overview

The average rent in San Diego, CA is $2,409 per month. This is 47% higher than the national average rent price of $1,644/month, making San Diego one of the most expensive cities in the US.

  • Studio apartments in San Diego average $2,030 per month.
  • One-bedroom apartments in San Diego average $2,409 per month.
  • Two-bedroom apartments in San Diego average $3,055 per month.
  • Three-bedroom apartments in San Diego average $3,941 or more per month.

Data Updated: June, 2026

Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Studio
$2,030/month
458 Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$2,409/month
652 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$3,055/month
962 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$3,941/month
1,219 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$2,214/month
464 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$4,167/month
861 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$7,548/month
1,599 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$14,893/month
2,733 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$3,341/month
651 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$4,883/month
1,035 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$8,016/month
1,301 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$11,307/month
1,924 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$2,892/month
669 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$3,891/month
1,094 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$5,352/month
1,478 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$5,657/month
1,743 Sq Ft

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

In the past year, rent has decreased by 0.3%, which averages out to $8 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 June 2026
Legend
2025 2026
Market Trends Over Time
Rent Ranges in San Diego, CA
Last Updated June 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
27% $1,001 - $1,500/month
25% $1,501 - $2,000/month
39% 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, Teralta East, Logan Heights and Paradise Hills are the most affordable neighborhoods in San Diego.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Teralta East
$1,494/month
455 Sq Ft
Logan Heights
$1,801/month
653 Sq Ft
Paradise Hills
$1,848/month
629 Sq Ft
Redwood Village-Rolando Park
$1,955/month
575 Sq Ft
Bay Terraces
$1,956/month
631 Sq Ft
El Cerrito
$1,980/month
602 Sq Ft
Rolando
$2,071/month
566 Sq Ft
Normal Heights
$2,090/month
524 Sq Ft
Nestor
$2,111/month
626 Sq Ft
College West
$2,138/month
526 Sq Ft

What are the most expensive neighborhoods in San Diego?

Based on current rent prices, Mission Beach, Bankers Hill and Torrey Preserve are the most expensive neighborhoods in San Diego.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Mission Beach
$4,219/month
503 Sq Ft
Bankers Hill
$4,136/month
713 Sq Ft
Torrey Preserve
$3,955/month
828 Sq Ft
North City
$3,820/month
736 Sq Ft
Columbia
$3,778/month
748 Sq Ft
Little Italy
$3,717/month
744 Sq Ft
Fenton Carroll Canyon
$3,671/month
1,124 Sq Ft
Carmel Valley
$3,664/month
784 Sq Ft
Civic Core
$3,619/month
739 Sq Ft
Torrey Highlands
$3,411/month
842 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 County and East Village .

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Downtown San Diego
$3,335/month
724 Sq Ft
East County
$2,386/month
667 Sq Ft
East Village
$3,081/month
711 Sq Ft
Mission Valley
$2,869/month
691 Sq Ft
Kearny Mesa
$3,341/month
750 Sq Ft
Little Italy
$3,717/month
744 Sq Ft
Civic Core
$3,619/month
739 Sq Ft
Hillcrest
$3,306/month
686 Sq Ft
Columbia
$3,778/month
748 Sq Ft
Serra Mesa
$3,318/month
760 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 $2,409, you’ll want to make about $8,030 per month or $96,360 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 47.3% higher than the national average. Generally, housing in San Diego is 109.6% more expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $2,030 - $3,941. You can expect to pay 12.5% more for groceries, 48.6% more for utilities, and 42.6% more for transportation.

City

San Diego, CA

12,182 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

Teralta East

San Diego, CA

Mission Beach

San Diego, CA

Studio
$1,940/month
$1,198/month
One Bedroom
$1,138/month
$1,804/month
Two Bedroom
$1,271/month
$3,023/month
Three Bedroom
$1,678/month
$7,667/month
Search
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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

$2,456 - $4,919

1-3 Beds

IMT Mission Valley

IMT Mission Valley

10343 San Diego Mission Rd,
San Diego, CA 92108

$2,440 - $3,260 Total Monthly Price

1-2 Beds

AMLI Aero

AMLI Aero

3585 Aero Ct,
San Diego, CA 92123

$2,940 - $6,813 Total Monthly Price

Studio - 3 Beds

Elowen

Elowen

8555 Aero Dr,
San Diego, CA 92123

$2,657 - $6,657 Total Monthly Price

Studio - 3 Beds

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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 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