Living at Santa Monica
1519 6th St,
Santa Monica, CA 90401
$2,512 - $4,689 Total Monthly Price
Studio - 2 Beds
Rental Market Trends in Santa Monica, CA
What is the average rent in Santa Monica, CA?
$2,986/month
Average Rent
584 Sq Ft
Average Apartment Size
-1.5%
Decrease in the Last Year
Santa Monica, CA Rental Market Overview
The average rent in Santa Monica, CA is $2,986 per month. This is 82% higher than the national average rent price of $1,644/month, making Santa Monica one of the most expensive cities in the US.
- Studio apartments in Santa Monica average $2,528 per month.
- One-bedroom apartments in Santa Monica average $2,986 per month.
- Two-bedroom apartments in Santa Monica average $3,876 per month.
- Three-bedroom apartments in Santa Monica average $7,036 or more per month.
Data Updated: June, 2026
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 decreased by 1.5%, which averages out to $44 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 June 2026
Legend
2025
2026
Rent Ranges in Santa Monica, CA
Last Updated June 2026
Above $2,000
Most rental prices fall within this range
Percentage*
Rent Range
1%
Below $700/month
3%
$700 - $1,000/month
5%
$1,001 - $1,500/month
8%
$1,501 - $2,000/month
83%
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, Wilshire Montana and Northeast 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, North of Montana, Downtown Santa Monica and Mid-City 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 Downtown Santa Monica, Pico and Mid-City Santa Monica .
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 $2,986, you’ll want to make about $9,953 per month or $119,436 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
$1,682/month
$2,710/month
One Bedroom
$2,149/month
$3,429/month
Two Bedroom
$2,911/month
$4,526/month
Three Bedroom
$3,410/month
$5,067/month
Nearby City Rent Trends
Apartment communities in Santa Monica we think you'll love
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 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.