The Village at Town Center
6410 Schmidt Ln,
El Cerrito, CA 94530
Studio - 2 Beds | $2,550 - $3,180
Rental Market Trends in El Cerrito, CA
Updated September 2026
The average rent in El Cerrito, CA is $2,307/month.
Rent in El Cerrito is 39% higher than the national average rent of $1,665/month, making this one of the more expensive cities statewide.
$2,307/month
Average Rent
616 Sq Ft
Average Size
+0.8%
Change / Year
44
Available Apartments
El Cerrito rent varies by unit size and layout:
- Studio apartments in El Cerrito average $1,956 per month.
- One-bedroom apartments in El Cerrito average $2,307 per month.
- Two-bedroom apartments in El Cerrito average $2,549 per month.
- Three-bedroom apartments in El Cerrito average $2,916 or more per month.
Average Rent by Home Type
Bedrooms
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
How much has average rent changed in El Cerrito, CA?
In the past year, rent has increased by 0.8%, which averages out to $19 more per month.
Market Trends Over Time
September 2026
2025
2026
Rent Ranges in El Cerrito, CA
September 2026
Above $2,000
Most rental prices fall within this range
Percentage*
Rent Range
0%
Below $700/month
0%
$700 - $1,000/month
29%
$1,001 - $1,500/month
12%
$1,501 - $2,000/month
58%
Above $2,000/month
What salary do I need to live comfortably in El Cerrito, CA?
Because the average rent in El Cerrito is $2,307, you’ll want to make about $7,690 per month or $92,280 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.
How does El Cerrito, CA compare to other nearby cities and neighborhoods?
Use the tool below to compare El Cerrito, 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.
View the El Cerrito Area GuideCompare Rent Trends Nearby
Get a clearer picture of the area by viewing rent trends in nearby cities.
-
Kensington
Avg Rent: $1,504/month
-
Albany
Avg Rent: $1,627/month
-
Richmond
Avg Rent: $1,800/month
-
Berkeley
Avg Rent: $2,336/month
-
El Sobrante
Avg Rent: $2,032/month
-
San Pablo
Avg Rent: $1,935/month
Apartment Communities in El Cerrito We Think You'll Love
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in El Cerrito?
The average rent in El Cerrito is $2,307 per month, which is 38.6% higher than the national average of $1,665.
Are rents going up or down in El Cerrito?
Rents in El Cerrito, CA are increasing, with prices up 0.8% year-over-year and $19 more per month.
What rent range is most common in El Cerrito?
In El Cerrito, CA, 58% of apartments fall above $2,000/month, though prices may vary depending on location and other factors.
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 September 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.