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Rental Market Trends in Palo Alto, CA

What is the average rent in Palo Alto, CA?

$3,013/month

Average Rent

634 Sq Ft

Average Apartment Size

+3%

Increase in the Last Year

As of March 2026, the average rent in Palo Alto, CA is $3,013 per month. This is 85% higher than the national average rent price of $1,627/month, making Palo Alto one of the most expensive cities in the US. When you rent an apartment in Palo Alto, you can expect to pay about $2,952 per month for a studio, $3,013 for a one-bedroom apartment, and around $3,840 for a two-bedroom apartment. If you opt for a three-bedroom rental, you could pay $4,894 or more.

Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Studio
$2,952/month
417 Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$3,013/month
634 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$3,840/month
915 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$4,894/month
1,163 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$9,594/month
1,429 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$7,763/month
1,804 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$12,718/month
2,760 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$3,229/month
787 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$5,484/month
1,561 Sq Ft

How much has average rent changed in Palo Alto, CA?

In the past year, rent has increased by 3%, which averages out to $92 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 March 2026
Legend
2025 2026
Market Trends Over Time
Rent Ranges in Palo Alto, CA
Last Updated March 2026
Above $2,000
Most rental prices fall within this range
Rent Ranges in Palo Alto, CA
Percentage*
Rent Range
0% Below $700/month
1% $700 - $1,000/month
1% $1,001 - $1,500/month
8% $1,501 - $2,000/month
90% Above $2,000/month

Rent by Neighborhood

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

What are the most affordable neighborhoods in Palo Alto?

Based on current rent prices, Midtown Palo Alto and Downtown Palo Alto" are the most affordable neighborhoods in Palo Alto.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Midtown Palo Alto
$3,525/month
694 Sq Ft
Downtown Palo Alto
$4,071/month
643 Sq Ft

What are the most expensive neighborhoods in Palo Alto?

Based on current rent prices, Downtown Palo Alto and Midtown Palo Alto" are the most expensive neighborhoods in Palo Alto.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Downtown Palo Alto
$4,071/month
643 Sq Ft
Midtown Palo Alto
$3,525/month
694 Sq Ft

Which Palo Alto neighborhoods have the most rentals available?

The neighborhoods in Palo Alto with the most apartments available are Downtown Palo Alto and Midtown Palo Alto" .

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Downtown Palo Alto
$4,071/month
643 Sq Ft
Midtown Palo Alto
$3,525/month
694 Sq Ft
This information is based on data collected by CoStar Group researchers.†

What salary do I need to live comfortably in Palo Alto, CA?

Because the average rent in Palo Alto is $3,013, you’ll want to make about $10,043 per month or $120,516 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

Palo Alto, CA

953 Available Apartments for Rent

Search for Nearby Apartments

How does Palo Alto, CA compare to other nearby cities and neighborhoods?

Use the tool below to compare Palo Alto, 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 Palo Alto, CA

Apartment Averages

Midtown Palo Alto

Palo Alto, CA

Downtown Palo Alto

Palo Alto, CA

Studio
$2,352/month
$2,983/month
One Bedroom
$2,976/month
$3,312/month
Two Bedroom
$3,728/month
$4,829/month
Three Bedroom
$5,094/month
$8,322/month
Search
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Nearby City Rent Trends

  • Los Altos Hills Average Rent
  • Los Altos Average Rent
  • Mountain View Average Rent
  • Menlo Park Average Rent

Apartment communities in Palo Alto we think you'll love

Sevens

Sevens

777 W Middlefield Rd,
Mountain View, CA 94043

$3,965 - $7,152 Total Monthly Price

Studio - 2 Beds

Fayette Arms Apartments

Fayette Arms Apartments

2680 Fayette Dr,
Mountain View, CA 94040

$2,485 - $4,223

1-2 Beds

Rowe at Pear Village

Rowe at Pear Village

1265 Pear Ave,
Mountain View, CA 94043

$3,821 - $5,545 Total Monthly Price

Studio - 2 Beds

Woodland Park

Woodland Park

45 Newell Rd,
East Palo Alto, CA 94303

$1,650 - $3,190 Total Monthly Price

Studio - 4 Beds | 12 Month Lease

Property Management Companies in Palo Alto, CA

Spieker Companies, Inc.
Spieker Companies, Inc.
  • 43

    Communities

  • 2,835

    Units

  • 15

    Cities

10 Communities in Palo Alto
Greystar
Greystar
  • 3,485

    Communities

  • 958,447

    Units

  • 897

    Cities

4 Communities in Palo Alto
Prometheus Real Estate Group, Inc.
Prometheus Real Estate Group, Inc.
  • 36

    Communities

  • 11,007

    Units

  • 11

    Cities

4 Communities in Palo Alto
BLVD Residential
BLVD Residential
  • 88

    Communities

  • 7,862

    Units

  • 33

    Cities

3 Communities in Palo Alto
UDR
UDR
  • 170

    Communities

  • 58,994

    Units

  • 85

    Cities

2 Communities in Palo Alto
Woodmont Real Estate Services
Woodmont Real Estate Services
  • 66

    Communities

  • 10,631

    Units

  • 32

    Cities

2 Communities in Palo Alto
Willow Bridge
Willow Bridge
  • 716

    Communities

  • 199,014

    Units

  • 340

    Cities

1 Community in Palo Alto
Pacifica Companies
Pacifica Companies
  • 83

    Communities

  • 13,589

    Units

  • 61

    Cities

1 Community in Palo Alto

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United States California Palo Alto 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.

* Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.

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Equal Housing Opportunity

© 2026 CoStar Group, Inc.

Equal Housing Opportunity