Foster City

There are many homes to choose from that border the Foster City channels.
A few Apartment developments a strewn throughout Foster City.
Warm light shines on apartments in Foster City.
Large office towers mark Foster City's commercial strength.

Foster City, CA Area Guide

An upscale community at the center of the Bay Area.

Commuter Coastal Boating Diverse Upscale Biking Bicycling

Built on a former Bay island in the 1960s, Foster City is a master-planned community where peaceful lagoons and open water are practically part of the neighborhood. Situated between San Mateo and Redwood Shores in San Mateo County, the city offers quick access to both Highway 92 and US-101, putting San Francisco, Palo Alto, and SFO within easy reach. Nearby Hillsdale Caltrain and Millbrae BART stations give commuters even more options. Leo J. Ryan Park anchors the waterfront, the Bay Trail stretches along the shoreline for walking and cycling, and the breezy conditions off San Francisco Bay draw windsurfers to Baywinds Park on weekends.

Shopping and dining are centered around Edgewater Place and Charter Square, while neighborhoods like Town Center, Whalers Island, and Marlin Cove each offer a slightly different feel—from lagoonside paths to mixed-use conveniences. The rental landscape here includes spacious townhomes, waterfront condos, and mid-rise apartment communities near major corporate campuses like Gilead Sciences and Zoox. Foster City is considered one of the safest cities in the country, with a remarkably low crime rate that has defined the community since its founding.

Explore the City

Warm light shines on apartments in Foster City.

Large office towers mark Foster City's commercial strength.

Rent Trends

As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in Foster City, CA is $2,813 for a studio, $3,229 for one bedroom, $4,151 for two bedrooms, and $5,460 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Foster City has increased by 0.7% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$3,229/month
723 Sq Ft
Townhome
$5,359/month
1,482 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Foster City, CA

Getting Around

Fairly Walkable

Walkability

40 / 100

Limited Public Transit

Transit

30 / 100

Exceptionally Drivable

Drivability

100 / 100

Very Bikeable

Bikeability

80 / 100

Schools

Foster City Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

624 Students

Brewer Island Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

306 Students

Audubon Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

445 Students

Beach Park Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

347 Students

Bowditch Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

929 Students

Points of Interest

Top Apartments in Foster City

Houses for Rent in Foster City

Search Nearby Rentals

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 February 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.