Atlas Alvarado
6535 Alvarado Rd,
San Diego, CA 92120
Studio - 3 Beds | $2,624 - $4,634
$2,070/month
Average Rent
652 Sq Ft
Average Apartment Size
+0.2%
Increase in the Last Year
As of July 2025, the average rent in La Mesa, CA is $2,070 per month. This is 26% higher than the national average rent price of $1,637/month, making La Mesa one of the most expensive cities in the US. When you rent an apartment in La Mesa, you can expect to pay about $1,617 per month for a studio, $2,070 for a one-bedroom apartment, and around $2,504 for a two-bedroom apartment. If you opt for a three-bedroom rental, you could pay $3,046 or more.
In the past year, rent has increased by 0.2%, which averages out to $4 more per month.
Based on current rent prices, Lake Murray Village, Casa de Oro-Mount Helix and Spring Valley Highlands are the most affordable neighborhoods in La Mesa.
Based on current rent prices, College Hill, Severin Manor and Parkway Manor are the most expensive neighborhoods in La Mesa.
The neighborhoods in La Mesa with the most apartments available are College Hill, Mellmanor and La Mesa Park Homes .
Because the average rent in La Mesa is $2,070, you’ll want to make about $6,900 per month or $82,800 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.
Use the tool below to compare La 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.
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† 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 June 2025.
* Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.