Bay Terrace
3204 Casa De Campo Way,
San Mateo, CA 94403
$2,878 - $4,117
2-3 Beds
Rental Market Trends in San Mateo, CA
What is the average rent in San Mateo, CA?
$2,951/month
Average Rent
697 Sq Ft
Average Apartment Size
+1.6%
Increase in the Last Year
As of January 2026, the average rent in San Mateo, CA is $2,951 per month. This is 82% higher than the national average rent price of $1,625/month, making San Mateo one of the most expensive cities in the US. When you rent an apartment in San Mateo, you can expect to pay about $2,445 per month for a studio, $2,951 for a one-bedroom apartment, and around $3,780 for a two-bedroom apartment. If you opt for a three-bedroom rental, you could pay $5,313 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 Mateo, CA?
In the past year, rent has increased by 1.6%, which averages out to $49 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 January 2026
Legend
2025
2026
Rent Ranges in San Mateo, CA
Last Updated January 2026
Above $2,000
Most rental prices fall within this range
Percentage*
Rent Range
0%
Below $700/month
2%
$700 - $1,000/month
6%
$1,001 - $1,500/month
19%
$1,501 - $2,000/month
74%
Above $2,000/month
Rent by Neighborhood
Last Updated Today
What are the most affordable neighborhoods in San Mateo?
Based on current rent prices, Shoreview, North B-Tilton Avenue and Sugarloaf are the most affordable neighborhoods in San Mateo.
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
What are the most expensive neighborhoods in San Mateo?
Based on current rent prices, Bowie Estate Eastern, Gateway and Downtown San Mateo are the most expensive neighborhoods in San Mateo.
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Which San Mateo neighborhoods have the most rentals available?
The neighborhoods in San Mateo with the most apartments available are Shoreview, North Central and Downtown San Mateo .
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
What salary do I need to live comfortably in San Mateo, CA?
Because the average rent in San Mateo is $2,951, you’ll want to make about $9,836 per month or $118,032 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 Mateo, CA compare to other nearby cities and neighborhoods?
Use the tool below to compare San Mateo, 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.
Studio
$1,984/month
-
One Bedroom
$2,763/month
-
Two Bedroom
$3,360/month
-
Three Bedroom
$4,238/month
-
Nearby City Rent Trends
Apartment communities in San Mateo we think you'll love
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Spieker Companies, Inc.
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43
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2,835
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Essex
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103
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36,502
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Woodmont Real Estate Services
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68
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10,791
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32
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Prometheus Real Estate Group, Inc.
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40
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11,607
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12
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Greystar
-
3,447
Communities
-
951,532
Units
-
888
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4 Communities in San Mateo
Equity Residential
-
163
Communities
-
53,297
Units
-
74
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4 Communities in San Mateo
Income Property Specialists
-
15
Communities
-
744
Units
-
8
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3 Communities in San Mateo
AMC
-
650
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-
128,108
Units
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252
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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 November 2025.
* Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.