• Renter Tools
    • Favorites
    • Saved Searches
  • Manage Rentals
  • Apartments For Rent
  • Houses For Rent
  • Condos For Rent
  • Townhomes For Rent
  • Help Center
  • Cost of Living in San Diego
  • Area Guide
  • Rent Calculator
  • Property Management Companies

Language

Apartments.com Logo
Manage Rentals      Sign Up / Sign In
Add a Property

Rental Market Trends in San Diego, CA

What is the average rent in San Diego, CA?

$2,392/month

Average Rent

651 Sq Ft

Average Apartment Size

-0.7%

Decrease in the Last Year

As of May 2026, the average rent in San Diego, CA is $2,392 per month. This is 46% higher than the national average rent price of $1,642/month, making San Diego one of the most expensive cities in the US. When you rent an apartment in San Diego, you can expect to pay about $2,015 per month for a studio, $2,392 for a one-bedroom apartment, and around $3,012 for a two-bedroom apartment. If you opt for a three-bedroom rental, you could pay $3,911 or more.

Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Studio
$2,015/month
460 Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$2,392/month
651 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$3,012/month
961 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$3,911/month
1,209 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$2,299/month
438 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$3,763/month
846 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$7,356/month
1,557 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$14,988/month
2,700 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$3,433/month
645 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$4,984/month
1,065 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$7,604/month
1,371 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$12,470/month
1,909 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$2,735/month
653 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$3,895/month
1,067 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$5,583/month
1,476 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$5,922/month
1,641 Sq Ft

How much has average rent changed in San Diego, CA?

In the past year, rent has decreased by 0.7%, which averages out to $16 less per month.

Market Trends Over Time   The chart below compares average rent prices to the previous year during the same time period.
Last Updated May 2026
Legend
2025 2026
Market Trends Over Time
Rent Ranges in San Diego, CA
Last Updated May 2026
Above $2,000
Most rental prices fall within this range
Rent Ranges in San Diego, CA
Percentage*
Rent Range
1% Below $700/month
9% $700 - $1,000/month
27% $1,001 - $1,500/month
24% $1,501 - $2,000/month
39% Above $2,000/month

Rent by Neighborhood

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

What are the most affordable neighborhoods in San Diego?

Based on current rent prices, Logan Heights, Colina Del Sol and Bay Terraces are the most affordable neighborhoods in San Diego.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Logan Heights
$1,813/month
578 Sq Ft
Colina Del Sol
$1,828/month
518 Sq Ft
Bay Terraces
$1,902/month
643 Sq Ft
Paradise Hills
$1,916/month
644 Sq Ft
Redwood Village-Rolando Park
$1,922/month
592 Sq Ft
Grant Hill
$1,955/month
428 Sq Ft
El Cerrito
$1,980/month
589 Sq Ft
Rolando
$2,141/month
574 Sq Ft
Normal Heights
$2,142/month
528 Sq Ft
South Park
$2,255/month
588 Sq Ft

What are the most expensive neighborhoods in San Diego?

Based on current rent prices, Mission Beach, Bankers Hill and Columbia are the most expensive neighborhoods in San Diego.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Mission Beach
$4,190/month
531 Sq Ft
Bankers Hill
$4,045/month
714 Sq Ft
Columbia
$3,818/month
749 Sq Ft
Little Italy
$3,769/month
758 Sq Ft
North City
$3,716/month
684 Sq Ft
Civic Core
$3,678/month
743 Sq Ft
Fenton Carroll Canyon
$3,542/month
1,084 Sq Ft
Carmel Valley
$3,430/month
787 Sq Ft
Serra Mesa
$3,409/month
768 Sq Ft
Torrey Highlands
$3,403/month
847 Sq Ft

Which San Diego neighborhoods have the most rentals available?

The neighborhoods in San Diego with the most apartments available are Downtown San Diego, East County and Mission Valley .

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Downtown San Diego
$3,366/month
728 Sq Ft
East County
$2,387/month
671 Sq Ft
Mission Valley
$2,799/month
688 Sq Ft
Kearny Mesa
$3,388/month
749 Sq Ft
East Village
$3,102/month
707 Sq Ft
Little Italy
$3,769/month
758 Sq Ft
Civic Core
$3,678/month
743 Sq Ft
Hillcrest
$3,146/month
688 Sq Ft
Columbia
$3,818/month
749 Sq Ft
Serra Mesa
$3,409/month
768 Sq Ft
This information is based on data collected by CoStar Group researchers.†

What salary do I need to live comfortably in San Diego, CA?

Because the average rent in San Diego is $2,392, you’ll want to make about $7,973 per month or $95,676 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.

Cost of Living

The cost of living in San Diego, CA is 47.3% higher than the national average. Generally, housing in San Diego is 109.6% more expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $2,015 - $3,911. You can expect to pay 12.5% more for groceries, 48.6% more for utilities, and 42.6% more for transportation.

City

San Diego, CA

12,396 Available Apartments for Rent

Search for Nearby Apartments

How does San Diego, CA compare to other nearby cities and neighborhoods?

Use the tool below to compare San Diego, 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 San Diego, CA

Apartment Averages

Logan Heights

San Diego, CA

Mission Beach

San Diego, CA

Studio
$1,334/month
$1,187/month
One Bedroom
$1,380/month
$1,789/month
Two Bedroom
$1,174/month
$3,005/month
Three Bedroom
$1,621/month
$7,636/month
Search
Search

Nearby City Rent Trends

  • La Mesa Average Rent
  • Santee Average Rent
  • Lemon Grove Average Rent
  • El Cajon Average Rent
  • Pacific Beach Average Rent
  • Spring Valley Average Rent
  • La Jolla Average Rent

Apartment communities in San Diego we think you'll love

Broadway Towers

Broadway Towers

1150 E St,
San Diego, CA 92101

$2,595 - $4,959

1-3 Beds

Elowen

Elowen

8555 Aero Dr,
San Diego, CA 92123

$2,591 - $6,069 Total Monthly Price

Studio - 3 Beds

IMT Mission Valley

IMT Mission Valley

10343 San Diego Mission Rd,
San Diego, CA 92108

$2,605 - $3,325 Total Monthly Price

1-2 Beds

AMLI Aero

AMLI Aero

3585 Aero Ct,
San Diego, CA 92123

$2,900 - $6,768

Studio - 3 Beds

Property Management Companies in San Diego, CA

Greystar
Greystar
  • 3,502

    Communities

  • 963,654

    Units

  • 892

    Cities

77 Communities in San Diego
R.A. Snyder Properties, Inc.
R.A. Snyder Properties, Inc.
  • 54

    Communities

  • 4,425

    Units

  • 15

    Cities

40 Communities in San Diego
Sunrise Management
Sunrise Management
  • 90

    Communities

  • 10,090

    Units

  • 38

    Cities

29 Communities in San Diego
Torrey Pines Property Management
Torrey Pines Property Management
  • 25

    Communities

  • 1,456

    Units

  • 9

    Cities

20 Communities in San Diego
CONAM Management Corporation
CONAM Management Corporation
  • 171

    Communities

  • 29,835

    Units

  • 86

    Cities

17 Communities in San Diego
Hanken Cono Assad & Co., Inc.
Hanken Cono Assad & Co., Inc.
  • 24

    Communities

  • 3,042

    Units

  • 8

    Cities

15 Communities in San Diego
FairGrove Property Management
FairGrove Property Management
  • 28

    Communities

  • 2,237

    Units

  • 14

    Cities

14 Communities in San Diego
Whittington Property Management
Whittington Property Management
  • 15

    Communities

  • 1,007

    Units

  • 5

    Cities

13 Communities in San Diego

Learn More with Helpful Articles

Non-Monetary Factors to Consider When Renting or Buying a Home

Money isn't the only matter.

Tips for Finding an Apartment in a New City

Concrete jungle or small-town suburb? Your new home awaits.

Everything You Need To Know About Self-Guided Apartment Tours

Explore great finds on your own time.

Moving Out of State: How to Start Your Apartment Search in a New State

Go the distance and find your new home.

Explore the Renterverse

Rental management, simplified

Our all-in-one suite of property manangement software makes the rental process easy. Screen tenants, manage payments, and more – all on Apartments.com

Start managing your rentals
United States California San Diego 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.

  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Legal Notices
  • Privacy Notice
  • Avoid Scams
  • Accessibility
  • Blog
  • Sitemap
apartments.com
© 2026 CoStar Group, Inc. Equal Housing Opportunity

Equal Housing Opportunity

© 2026 CoStar Group, Inc.

Equal Housing Opportunity