• Renter Tools
    • Favorites
    • Saved Searches
  • Manage Rentals
  • Apartments For Rent
    • Carlsbad Apartments For Rent
    • Casa de Oro-Mount Helix Apartments For Rent
    • Chula Vista Apartments For Rent
    • El Cajon Apartments For Rent
    • Escondido Apartments For Rent
    • La Jolla Apartments For Rent
    • La Mesa Apartments For Rent
    • National City Apartments For Rent
    • Oceanside Apartments For Rent
    • Pacific Beach Apartments For Rent
  • Houses For Rent
    • Carlsbad Houses For Rent
    • Chula Vista Houses For Rent
    • Coronado Houses For Rent
    • Encinitas Houses For Rent
    • Escondido Houses For Rent
    • La Jolla Houses For Rent
    • La Mesa Houses For Rent
    • Oceanside Houses For Rent
    • Pacific Beach Houses For Rent
    • Point Loma Houses For Rent
  • Condos For Rent
    • Camp Pendleton Condos For Rent
    • Carlsbad Condos For Rent
    • Chula Vista Condos For Rent
    • Coronado Condos For Rent
    • Imperial Beach Condos For Rent
    • La Jolla Condos For Rent
    • La Mesa Condos For Rent
    • Ocean Beach Condos For Rent
    • Oceanside Condos For Rent
    • Pacific Beach Condos For Rent
  • Townhomes For Rent
    • Camp Pendleton Townhomes For Rent
    • Carlsbad Townhomes For Rent
    • Chula Vista Townhomes For Rent
    • Coronado Townhomes For Rent
    • Encinitas Townhomes For Rent
    • La Jolla Townhomes For Rent
    • La Mesa Townhomes For Rent
    • Oceanside Townhomes For Rent
    • Pacific Beach Townhomes For Rent
    • Point Loma 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?

$2,383/month

Average Rent

652 Sq Ft

Average Apartment Size

-0.4%

Decrease in the Last Year

As of February 2026, the average rent in San Diego, CA is $2,383 per month. This is 47% higher than the national average rent price of $1,626/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 $2,028 per month for a studio, $2,383 for a one-bedroom apartment, and around $2,968 for a two-bedroom apartment. If you opt for a three-bedroom rental, you could pay $3,857 or more.

Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Studio
$2,028/month
462 Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$2,383/month
652 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$2,968/month
958 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$3,857/month
1,214 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$2,296/month
467 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$3,740/month
900 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$6,977/month
1,536 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$12,336/month
2,538 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$3,283/month
657 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$5,088/month
1,072 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$7,496/month
1,380 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$8,737/month
1,618 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$2,628/month
619 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$4,067/month
1,162 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$4,997/month
1,461 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$5,600/month
1,501 Sq Ft

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

In the past year, rent has decreased by 0.4%, which averages out to $9 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 February 2026
Legend
2025 2026
Market Trends Over Time
Rent Ranges in San Diego, CA
Last Updated February 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
28% $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, Redwood Village-Rolando Park, Collwood Park and Egger Highlands are the most affordable neighborhoods in San Diego.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Redwood Village-Rolando Park
$1,860/month
504 Sq Ft
Collwood Park
$1,936/month
491 Sq Ft
Egger Highlands
$1,953/month
638 Sq Ft
Bay Terraces
$1,979/month
721 Sq Ft
San Ysidro South
$1,991/month
610 Sq Ft
El Cerrito
$1,997/month
579 Sq Ft
Sunset
$2,001/month
631 Sq Ft
Rolando
$2,021/month
576 Sq Ft
Colina Del Sol
$2,024/month
532 Sq Ft
Clairemont Gardens
$2,033/month
650 Sq Ft

What are the most expensive neighborhoods in San Diego?

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

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Mission Beach
$3,984/month
534 Sq Ft
Torrey Preserve
$3,915/month
882 Sq Ft
Little Italy
$3,873/month
736 Sq Ft
Bankers Hill
$3,656/month
706 Sq Ft
Harborview
$3,652/month
807 Sq Ft
The Shores
$3,641/month
828 Sq Ft
East Bluff del Mar Highlands
$3,586/month
742 Sq Ft
Del Mar Mesa
$3,585/month
800 Sq Ft
Fenton Carroll Canyon
$3,561/month
1,072 Sq Ft
Carmel Valley
$3,534/month
789 Sq Ft

Which San Diego neighborhoods have the most rentals available?

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

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Balboa Park
$3,145/month
689 Sq Ft
East County
$2,372/month
672 Sq Ft
Downtown San Diego
$3,381/month
720 Sq Ft
Mission Valley
$2,872/month
693 Sq Ft
Kearny Mesa
$3,364/month
752 Sq Ft
Marina District
$3,498/month
708 Sq Ft
Uptown San Diego
$3,099/month
684 Sq Ft
East Village
$3,083/month
708 Sq Ft
Hillcrest
$3,115/month
697 Sq Ft
Serra Mesa
$3,402/month
767 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 $2,383, you’ll want to make about $7,943 per month or $95,316 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 45.8% higher than the national average. Generally, housing in San Diego is 109.8% more expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $2,028 - $3,857. You can expect to pay 11.2% more for groceries, 49.8% more for utilities, and 40.5% more for transportation.

City

San Diego, CA

13,932 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

Redwood Village-Rolando Park

San Diego, CA

Mission Beach

San Diego, CA

Studio
$1,393/month
$1,187/month
One Bedroom
$1,681/month
$1,709/month
Two Bedroom
$1,741/month
$2,982/month
Three Bedroom
$2,095/month
$7,633/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

$2,585 - $4,959

1-3 Beds

IMT Mission Valley

IMT Mission Valley

10343 San Diego Mission Rd,
San Diego, CA 92108

$2,530 - $3,085

1-2 Beds

Del Oro on Broadway

Del Oro on Broadway

986 Broadway,
Chula Vista, CA 91911

$2,595 - $3,445

1-2 Beds

Cedros Gardens

Cedros Gardens

330 S Cedros Ave,
Solana Beach, CA 92075

$4,500 - $8,500

1-2 Beds

Property Management Companies in San Diego, CA

Greystar
Greystar
  • 3,465

    Communities

  • 954,290

    Units

  • 891

    Cities

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

    Communities

  • 4,425

    Units

  • 15

    Cities

41 Communities in San Diego
Sunrise Management
Sunrise Management
  • 89

    Communities

  • 9,805

    Units

  • 37

    Cities

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

    Communities

  • 1,669

    Units

  • 10

    Cities

23 Communities in San Diego
FairGrove Property Management
FairGrove Property Management
  • 32

    Communities

  • 2,472

    Units

  • 16

    Cities

16 Communities in San Diego
CONAM Management Corporation
CONAM Management Corporation
  • 161

    Communities

  • 28,308

    Units

  • 81

    Cities

15 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
  • 112

    Communities

  • 59,957

    Units

  • 17

    Cities

12 Communities in San Diego

Learn More with Helpful Articles

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

Go the distance and find your new home.

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.

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

Money isn't the only matter.

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.

* 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