San Rafael

Background Image

San Rafael, CA Area Guide

The North Bay’s prime artistic community.

Commuter Arts Schools Outdoors Family-Friendly

Just 30 minutes from San Francisco and boasting great schools, over a dozen city parks, and a thriving cultural scene, San Rafael apartments are a great choice for folks who work in the city. As a community, San Rafael is very much in touch with the arts. Several art and history museums dot the map, and the monthly 2nd Friday Art Walk is very popular among locals. Ever since Bay Area native George Lucas chose San Rafael as the home for his special effects company Industrial Light and Magic, the city has seen a significant amount of filmmaking activity. Movie buffs will also love taking advantage of the Smith Rafael Film Center, which screens an eclectic mix of classic and contemporary films in a gorgeous downtown art deco theater. Outdoorsy types will appreciate the nearby coastal nature preserves and the relatively close proximity of the massive National Forests to the north.

Rent Trends

As of March 2026, the average apartment rent in San Rafael, CA is $1,836 for a studio, $2,206 for one bedroom, $2,825 for two bedrooms, and $3,298 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in San Rafael has increased by 1.4% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$2,206/month
634 Sq Ft
House
$7,772/month
2,190 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in San Rafael, CA

Getting Around

Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly San Rafael, CA is for everyday living.

Very Walkable

76 / 100

If you enjoy walking, you’ll enjoy renting in this area! It’s a very walkable neighborhood.

Some Transit

45 / 100

You'll likely want a car when living in this area since it has few transit options.

Bikeable

60 / 100

While there’s some bike infrastructure in this area, you’ll still need a car for many errands.

Schools

Sun Valley Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

Vallecito Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

Lucas Valley Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

Laurel Dell Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

Glenwood Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

Terra Linda High

Public

Grades 9-12

San Rafael High

Public

Grades 9-12

Marin School of Environmental Leadership

Public

Grades 9-12

90 Students

Marin County ROP

Public

Grades 9-12

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • WildCare
  • China Camp State Park
  • Hal Brown Park at Creekside
  • John F. McInnis County Park
  • McNear's Beach County Park

Transit / Subway

Airports

  • Metro Oakland International
  • San Francisco International

Top Apartments in San Rafael

Houses for Rent in San Rafael

Property Management Companies in San Rafael, CA

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.