Avila Apartments in Downtown SLO
475-497 Marsh St,
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
$1,975 - $2,200
Studio - 1 Bed
Rental Market Trends in San Luis Obispo, CA
What is the average rent in San Luis Obispo, CA?
$1,943/month
Average Rent
601 Sq Ft
Average Apartment Size
+2.1%
Increase in the Last Year
As of June 2026, the average rent in San Luis Obispo, CA is $1,943 per month. This is 18% higher than the national average rent price of $1,644/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 $2,148 per month for a studio, $1,943 for a one-bedroom apartment, and around $2,565 for a two-bedroom apartment. If you opt for a three-bedroom rental, you could pay $3,379 or more.
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average 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 2.1%, which averages out to $41 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 June 2026
Legend
2025
2026
Rent Ranges in San Luis Obispo, CA
Last Updated June 2026
Above $2,000
Most rental prices fall within this range
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 $1,943, you’ll want to make about $6,476 per month or $77,712 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.
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.
Nearby City Rent Trends
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Cardinal Group Management and Advisory, LLC
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Walsh & Company
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29
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23
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Winn Companies
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Pacifica Companies
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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 June 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.