Rental Market Trends in California
$2,202/month
Average Rent
+1.2%
Increase in the Last Year
+$26
Average Price Increase
Ranked 4th
Most Expensive Rent by State
140,689
Available Rentals
Bakersfield, CA
City with the Lowest Rent
What is the average rent in California?
As of January 2026, the average rent in California is $2,202/month. When you rent an apartment in California, you can expect some variability depending on the region. For instance, metropolitan areas may have higher rents than smaller towns and rural areas. In general, you can expect to pay about $1,860 per month for a studio, $2,202 for a one-bedroom apartment, and around $2,615 for a two-bedroom apartment in California. If you opt for a three-bedroom rental, you could pay $3,278 or more.
Rent by City
What are the most affordable cities in California?
Based on current rent prices, the cheapest cities in California to live are Bakersfield, Stockton and Fresno.
What are the most expensive cities in California?
Based on current rent prices, the most expensive cities in California to live are San Francisco, Irvine and Sunnyvale.
Nearby State Markets
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Methodology
† 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.
State graphics provided by ProPublica
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