Living at Santa Monica
1519 6th St,
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Studio - 2 Beds | $2,542 - $4,938
Rental Market Trends in Santa Monica, CA
What is the average rent in Santa Monica, CA?
$3,017/month
Average Rent
585 Sq Ft
Average Apartment Size
+0.6%
Increase in the Last Year
As of July 2025, the average rent in Santa Monica, CA is $3,017 per month. This is 84% higher than the national average rent price of $1,637/month, making Santa Monica one of the most expensive cities in the US. When you rent an apartment in Santa Monica, you can expect to pay about $2,485 per month for a studio, $3,017 for a one-bedroom apartment, and around $3,823 for a two-bedroom apartment. If you opt for a three-bedroom rental, you could pay $4,867 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 Santa Monica, CA?
In the past year, rent has increased by 0.6%, which averages out to $17 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 July 2025
Legend
2024
2025
Rent Ranges in Santa Monica, CA
Last Updated July 2025
Above $2,000
Most rental prices fall within this range
Percentage*
Rent Range
1%
Below $700/month
4%
$700 - $1,000/month
6%
$1,001 - $1,500/month
9%
$1,501 - $2,000/month
81%
Above $2,000/month
Rent by Neighborhood
Last Updated Today
What are the most affordable neighborhoods in Santa Monica?
Based on current rent prices, Sunset Park, Austin Heights and Green Acres are the most affordable neighborhoods in Santa Monica.
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
What are the most expensive neighborhoods in Santa Monica?
Based on current rent prices, Downtown Santa Monica, Mid-City Santa Monica and South Santa Monica are the most expensive neighborhoods in Santa Monica.
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Which Santa Monica neighborhoods have the most rentals available?
The neighborhoods in Santa Monica with the most apartments available are Mid-City Santa Monica, Downtown Santa Monica and Pico .
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
What salary do I need to live comfortably in Santa Monica, CA?
Because the average rent in Santa Monica is $3,017, you’ll want to make about $10,056 per month or $120,672 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 Santa Monica, CA compare to other nearby cities and neighborhoods?
Use the tool below to compare Santa Monica, 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
$1,651/month
$3,180/month
One Bedroom
$2,104/month
$4,090/month
Two Bedroom
$2,908/month
$5,786/month
Three Bedroom
$3,264/month
$13,669/month
Nearby City Rent Trends
Apartment communities in Santa Monica we think you'll love
Property Management Companies in Santa Monica, CA
Moss & Company
-
131
Communities
-
9,263
Units
-
35
Cities
11 Communities in Santa Monica
Lido Equities Management Group, Inc.
-
32
Communities
-
802
Units
-
5
Cities
7 Communities in Santa Monica
Greystar
-
3,278
Communities
-
911,695
Units
-
850
Cities
6 Communities in Santa Monica
Bozzuto
-
390
Communities
-
117,917
Units
-
156
Cities
6 Communities in Santa Monica
Dromy International Investment Corporation
-
16
Communities
-
337
Units
-
5
Cities
6 Communities in Santa Monica
Douglas Emmett
-
11
Communities
-
4,264
Units
-
4
Cities
6 Communities in Santa Monica
Property Management Associates
-
50
Communities
-
2,816
Units
-
21
Cities
5 Communities in Santa Monica
Xenon Investment Corporation
-
26
Communities
-
1,037
Units
-
10
Cities
5 Communities in Santa Monica
Learn More with Helpful Articles
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
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 2025.
* Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.