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Rental Market Trends in San Luis Obispo, CA

What is the average rent in San Luis Obispo, CA?

$1,927/month

Average Rent

598 Sq Ft

Average Apartment Size

+0.7%

Increase in the Last Year

As of December 2025, the average rent in San Luis Obispo, CA is $1,927 per month. This is 18% higher than the national average rent price of $1,631/month, making San Luis Obispo one of the most expensive cities in the US. When you rent an apartment in San Luis Obispo, you can expect to pay about $2,086 per month for a studio, $1,927 for a one-bedroom apartment, and around $2,506 for a two-bedroom apartment. If you opt for a three-bedroom rental, you could pay $3,436 or more.

Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Studio
$2,086/month
488 Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,927/month
598 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$2,506/month
885 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$3,436/month
1,148 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$4,642/month
1,144 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$8,350/month
1,642 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 San Luis Obispo, CA?

In the past year, rent has increased by 0.7%, which averages out to $15 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 December 2025
Legend
2024 2025
Market Trends Over Time
Rent Ranges in San Luis Obispo, CA
Last Updated December 2025
Above $2,000
Most rental prices fall within this range
Rent Ranges in San Luis Obispo, CA
Percentage*
Rent Range
0% Below $700/month
0% $700 - $1,000/month
20% $1,001 - $1,500/month
27% $1,501 - $2,000/month
52% Above $2,000/month

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

Because the average rent in San Luis Obispo is $1,927, you’ll want to make about $6,423 per month or $77,076 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

San Luis Obispo, CA

175 Available Apartments for Rent

Search for Nearby Apartments

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

Use the tool below to compare San Luis Obispo, 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 Luis Obispo, CA

Apartment Averages

Nearby City Rent Trends

  • Pismo Beach Average Rent
  • Grover Beach Average Rent
  • Arroyo Grande Average Rent
  • Morro Bay Average Rent
  • Atascadero Average Rent

Apartment communities in San Luis Obispo we think you'll love

The SLO Student Living Apartments

The SLO Student Living Apartments

1050 Foothill Blvd,
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405

$579 - $829

1 Bed

Avila Apartments in Downtown SLO

Avila Apartments in Downtown SLO

475-497 Marsh St,
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

$875 - $2,200

Studio - 1 Bed

Artisan Apartments

Artisan Apartments

564 Higuera St,
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

$2,498 - $2,521

Studio - 1 Bed

Peach Street

Peach Street

660 Peach St,
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

$1,850

Studio

Property Management Companies in San Luis Obispo, CA

Cardinal Group Management and Advisory, LLC
Cardinal Group Management and Advisory, LLC
  • 159

    Communities

  • 31,411

    Units

  • 82

    Cities

2 Communities in San Luis Obispo
Walsh & Company
Walsh & Company
  • 26

    Communities

  • 3,483

    Units

  • 20

    Cities

2 Communities in San Luis Obispo
Winn Companies
Winn Companies
  • 161

    Communities

  • 33,098

    Units

  • 114

    Cities

1 Community in San Luis Obispo
Pacifica Companies
Pacifica Companies
  • 85

    Communities

  • 13,682

    Units

  • 64

    Cities

1 Community in San Luis Obispo

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United States California San Luis Obispo 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 November 2025.

* Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.

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