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Rental Market Trends in San Diego, CA

What is the average rent in San Diego, CA?

$2,381/month

Average Rent

653 Sq Ft

Average Apartment Size

-0.7%

Decrease in the Last Year

As of March 2026, the average rent in San Diego, CA is $2,381 per month. This is 46% higher than the national average rent price of $1,627/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 $2,029 per month for a studio, $2,381 for a one-bedroom apartment, and around $2,975 for a two-bedroom apartment. If you opt for a three-bedroom rental, you could pay $3,862 or more.

Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Studio
$2,029/month
460 Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$2,381/month
653 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$2,975/month
960 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$3,862/month
1,215 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$2,378/month
514 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$3,804/month
934 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$6,987/month
1,562 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$13,994/month
2,743 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$3,240/month
644 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$5,501/month
1,109 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$8,183/month
1,397 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$6,066/month
1,321 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$2,459/month
638 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$3,999/month
1,136 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$5,490/month
1,513 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$5,760/month
1,632 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 March 2026
Legend
2025 2026
Market Trends Over Time
Rent Ranges in San Diego, CA
Last Updated March 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
38% 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, Egger Highlands, Colina Del Sol and Oak Park are the most affordable neighborhoods in San Diego.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Egger Highlands
$1,904/month
554 Sq Ft
Colina Del Sol
$1,909/month
519 Sq Ft
Oak Park
$1,917/month
624 Sq Ft
Redwood Village-Rolando Park
$1,925/month
595 Sq Ft
Bay Terraces
$1,990/month
655 Sq Ft
El Cerrito
$1,993/month
589 Sq Ft
Sunset
$2,041/month
623 Sq Ft
Normal Heights
$2,052/month
559 Sq Ft
Nestor
$2,066/month
595 Sq Ft
Clairemont Gardens
$2,081/month
607 Sq Ft

What are the most expensive neighborhoods in San Diego?

Based on current rent prices, Mission Beach, Little Italy and La Strada are the most expensive neighborhoods in San Diego.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Mission Beach
$4,238/month
553 Sq Ft
Little Italy
$3,748/month
758 Sq Ft
La Strada
$3,725/month
843 Sq Ft
East Bluff del Mar Highlands
$3,705/month
742 Sq Ft
Torrey Preserve
$3,672/month
855 Sq Ft
Harborview
$3,604/month
840 Sq Ft
North City
$3,570/month
704 Sq Ft
Pacific Highlands Ranch
$3,570/month
704 Sq Ft
Carmel Valley
$3,521/month
782 Sq Ft
Del Mar Mesa
$3,519/month
797 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
$3,290/month
728 Sq Ft
East County
$2,376/month
674 Sq Ft
Mission Valley
$2,875/month
697 Sq Ft
Kearny Mesa
$3,363/month
748 Sq Ft
Marina District
$3,398/month
717 Sq Ft
East Village
$3,046/month
709 Sq Ft
Uptown San Diego
$3,102/month
692 Sq Ft
Hillcrest
$3,084/month
692 Sq Ft
Serra Mesa
$3,390/month
771 Sq Ft
Little Italy
$3,748/month
758 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 $2,381, you’ll want to make about $7,936 per month or $95,232 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 $2,029 - $3,862. 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

13,353 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

Egger Highlands

San Diego, CA

Mission Beach

San Diego, CA

Studio
-
$1,186/month
One Bedroom
$1,893/month
$1,792/month
Two Bedroom
$2,248/month
$3,009/month
Three Bedroom
$2,606/month
$7,629/month
Search
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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

AMLI Aero

AMLI Aero

3585 Aero Ct,
San Diego, CA 92123

$2,730 - $6,698

Studio - 3 Beds

IMT Mission Valley

IMT Mission Valley

10343 San Diego Mission Rd,
San Diego, CA 92108

$2,305 - $3,335

1-2 Beds

Cedros Gardens

Cedros Gardens

330 S Cedros Ave,
Solana Beach, CA 92075

$6,100 - $8,000

2 Beds

Property Management Companies in San Diego, CA

Greystar
Greystar
  • 3,480

    Communities

  • 955,114

    Units

  • 894

    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
  • 92

    Communities

  • 10,200

    Units

  • 38

    Cities

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

    Communities

  • 1,650

    Units

  • 11

    Cities

22 Communities in San Diego
CONAM Management Corporation
CONAM Management Corporation
  • 168

    Communities

  • 29,684

    Units

  • 86

    Cities

17 Communities in San Diego
FairGrove Property Management
FairGrove Property Management
  • 31

    Communities

  • 2,354

    Units

  • 16

    Cities

16 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
Irvine Company
Irvine Company
  • 113

    Communities

  • 61,057

    Units

  • 17

    Cities

12 Communities in San Diego

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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.

* Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.

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Equal Housing Opportunity