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Rental Market Trends in Palo Alto, CA

What is the average rent in Palo Alto, CA?

$3,026/month

Average Rent

634 Sq Ft

Average Apartment Size

+2.9%

Increase in the Last Year

As of April 2026, the average rent in Palo Alto, CA is $3,026 per month. This is 84% higher than the national average rent price of $1,641/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 $2,963 per month for a studio, $3,026 for a one-bedroom apartment, and around $3,848 for a two-bedroom apartment. If you opt for a three-bedroom rental, you could pay $4,917 or more.

Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Studio
$2,963/month
417 Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$3,026/month
634 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$3,848/month
912 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$4,917/month
1,187 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$8,167/month
1,674 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$13,231/month
3,115 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft

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

In the past year, rent has increased by 2.9%, which averages out to $89 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 Palo Alto, CA
Last Updated April 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
$3,488/month
661 Sq Ft
Downtown Palo Alto
$3,976/month
612 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
$3,976/month
612 Sq Ft
Midtown Palo Alto
$3,488/month
661 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
$3,976/month
612 Sq Ft
Midtown Palo Alto
$3,488/month
661 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 $3,026, you’ll want to make about $10,086 per month or $121,032 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

862 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
$2,357/month
$3,063/month
One Bedroom
$2,913/month
$3,310/month
Two Bedroom
$3,692/month
$4,898/month
Three Bedroom
$5,008/month
$8,341/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

$3,753 - $7,138 Total Monthly Price

Studio - 2 Beds

Fayette Arms Apartments

Fayette Arms Apartments

2680 Fayette Dr,
Mountain View, CA 94040

$2,433 - $4,447

1-2 Beds

Woodland Park

Woodland Park

45 Newell Rd,
East Palo Alto, CA 94303

$1,800 - $4,075 Total Monthly Price

Studio - 4 Beds | 12 Month Lease

Landsby

Landsby

2580-2590 California St,
Mountain View, CA 94040

$3,640 - $7,314 Total Monthly Price

Studio - 3 Beds

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
  • 3,486

    Communities

  • 959,251

    Units

  • 891

    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
  • 92

    Communities

  • 7,900

    Units

  • 33

    Cities

3 Communities in Palo Alto
UDR
UDR
  • 167

    Communities

  • 58,082

    Units

  • 85

    Cities

2 Communities in Palo Alto
Woodmont Real Estate Services
Woodmont Real Estate Services
  • 65

    Communities

  • 10,400

    Units

  • 33

    Cities

2 Communities in Palo Alto
Willow Bridge
Willow Bridge
  • 716

    Communities

  • 197,852

    Units

  • 340

    Cities

1 Community in Palo Alto
Pacifica Companies
Pacifica Companies
  • 83

    Communities

  • 13,574

    Units

  • 62

    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.

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