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Rental Market Trends in Costa Mesa, CA

What is the average rent in Costa Mesa, CA?

$2,578/month

Average Rent

695 Sq Ft

Average Apartment Size

+2.4%

Increase in the Last Year

As of April 2026, the average rent in Costa Mesa, CA is $2,578 per month. This is 57% higher than the national average rent price of $1,641/month, making Costa Mesa one of the most expensive cities in the US. When you rent an apartment in Costa Mesa, you can expect to pay about $2,092 per month for a studio, $2,578 for a one-bedroom apartment, and around $3,023 for a two-bedroom apartment. If you opt for a three-bedroom rental, you could pay $3,348 or more.

Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Studio
$2,092/month
476 Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$2,578/month
695 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$3,023/month
952 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$3,348/month
1,152 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$7,799/month
1,093 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$6,454/month
1,303 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$14,813/month
2,678 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$2,343/month
697 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$5,682/month
1,224 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$7,294/month
1,586 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$3,693/month
892 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$4,679/month
1,437 Sq Ft

How much has average rent changed in Costa Mesa, CA?

In the past year, rent has increased by 2.4%, which averages out to $62 more per month.

Market Trends Over Time   The chart below compares average rent prices to the previous year during the same time period.
Last Updated April 2026
Legend
2025 2026
Market Trends Over Time
Rent Ranges in Costa Mesa, CA
Last Updated April 2026
Above $2,000
Most rental prices fall within this range
Rent Ranges in Costa Mesa, CA
Percentage*
Rent Range
0% Below $700/month
2% $700 - $1,000/month
9% $1,001 - $1,500/month
23% $1,501 - $2,000/month
67% Above $2,000/month

Rent by Neighborhood

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

What are the most affordable neighborhoods in Costa Mesa?

Based on current rent prices, Downtown Costa Mesa, East Side Costa Mesa and The Upper Birds are the most affordable neighborhoods in Costa Mesa.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Downtown Costa Mesa
$2,382/month
652 Sq Ft
East Side Costa Mesa
$2,625/month
645 Sq Ft
The Upper Birds
$2,648/month
755 Sq Ft
Westside Costa Mesa
$2,655/month
706 Sq Ft
The Island Streets
$2,688/month
776 Sq Ft
College Park District
$2,717/month
688 Sq Ft
Theatre Arts District
$2,939/month
744 Sq Ft

What are the most expensive neighborhoods in Costa Mesa?

Based on current rent prices, Theatre Arts District, College Park District and The Island Streets are the most expensive neighborhoods in Costa Mesa.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Theatre Arts District
$2,939/month
744 Sq Ft
College Park District
$2,717/month
688 Sq Ft
The Island Streets
$2,688/month
776 Sq Ft
Westside Costa Mesa
$2,655/month
706 Sq Ft
The Upper Birds
$2,648/month
755 Sq Ft
East Side Costa Mesa
$2,625/month
645 Sq Ft
Downtown Costa Mesa
$2,382/month
652 Sq Ft

Which Costa Mesa neighborhoods have the most rentals available?

The neighborhoods in Costa Mesa with the most apartments available are Westside Costa Mesa, College Park District and Downtown Costa Mesa .

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Westside Costa Mesa
$2,655/month
706 Sq Ft
College Park District
$2,717/month
688 Sq Ft
Downtown Costa Mesa
$2,382/month
652 Sq Ft
The Upper Birds
$2,648/month
755 Sq Ft
The Island Streets
$2,688/month
776 Sq Ft
Theatre Arts District
$2,939/month
744 Sq Ft
East Side Costa Mesa
$2,625/month
645 Sq Ft
This information is based on data collected by CoStar Group researchers.†

What salary do I need to live comfortably in Costa Mesa, CA?

Because the average rent in Costa Mesa is $2,578, you’ll want to make about $8,593 per month or $103,116 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.

City

Costa Mesa, CA

1,251 Available Apartments for Rent

Search for Nearby Apartments

How does Costa Mesa, CA compare to other nearby cities and neighborhoods?

Use the tool below to compare Costa Mesa, 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 Costa Mesa, CA

Apartment Averages

Downtown Costa Mesa

Costa Mesa, CA

Theatre Arts District

Costa Mesa, CA

Studio
$1,916/month
-
One Bedroom
$2,239/month
-
Two Bedroom
$2,686/month
-
Three Bedroom
$3,502/month
-
Search
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Nearby City Rent Trends

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Apartment communities in Costa Mesa we think you'll love

Madison Newport Apartment Homes

Madison Newport Apartment Homes

2345 Newport Blvd,
Costa Mesa, CA 92627

$2,750 - $4,350

1-3 Beds

The Grand Costa Mesa

The Grand Costa Mesa

2855 Pinecreek Dr,
Costa Mesa, CA 92626

$2,275 - $3,625

1-2 Beds

Enzo

Enzo

3100 Martin,
Irvine, CA 92612

$3,135 - $5,035 Total Monthly Price

Studio - 2 Beds

Aurum

Aurum

2055 Main St,
Irvine, CA 92614

$2,982 - $6,972 Total Monthly Price

Studio - 2 Beds

Property Management Companies in Costa Mesa, CA

Advanced Real Estate
Advanced Real Estate
  • 64

    Communities

  • 11,801

    Units

  • 29

    Cities

6 Communities in Costa Mesa
UDR
UDR
  • 167

    Communities

  • 58,082

    Units

  • 85

    Cities

5 Communities in Costa Mesa
Beach Front Property Management, Inc.
Beach Front Property Management, Inc.
  • 128

    Communities

  • 3,881

    Units

  • 33

    Cities

4 Communities in Costa Mesa
Jamboree Management
Jamboree Management
  • 32

    Communities

  • 4,280

    Units

  • 22

    Cities

4 Communities in Costa Mesa
The REMM Group
The REMM Group
  • 43

    Communities

  • 5,020

    Units

  • 31

    Cities

3 Communities in Costa Mesa
Dunbar Real Estate Investment Management
Dunbar Real Estate Investment Management
  • 15

    Communities

  • 435

    Units

  • 10

    Cities

3 Communities in Costa Mesa
Greystar
Greystar
  • 3,488

    Communities

  • 959,885

    Units

  • 891

    Cities

2 Communities in Costa Mesa
Avenue5 Residential
Avenue5 Residential
  • 578

    Communities

  • 128,898

    Units

  • 223

    Cities

2 Communities in Costa Mesa

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United States California Costa Mesa 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 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.

* Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.

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© 2026 CoStar Group, Inc. Equal Housing Opportunity

Equal Housing Opportunity

© 2026 CoStar Group, Inc.

Equal Housing Opportunity