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1d ago
Verified
1–2 beds
1–2 baths
$2,949–$4,249
Price drop
Apartment for rent
2d ago
Verified
200 Button St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Garage parking | On-site laundry | Swimming pool
1–2 beds
1 bath
$2,000–$3,875
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Eastside house for rent in Santa Cruz
3 beds
2.5 baths
$4,500
House for rent
5d+ ago
House for rent in Santa Cruz
4 beds
2.5 baths
$5,895
House for rent
3d ago
House for rent in Santa Cruz
901 River St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
In-unit laundry | Garage parking | On-site laundry
1 bed
1.5 baths
$2,495
House for rent
4h ago
1240 Shaffer Rd, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Garage parking | Assigned parking | Swimming pool
1–2 beds
1–2 baths
$3,527–$4,961
Price drop
Apartment for rent
13h ago
Eastside condo for rent in Santa Cruz
2 beds
1.5 baths
$3,400
Condo for rent
Available Jul 15
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1d ago
4 beds
4 baths
$8,000
Condo for rent
2d ago
2 beds
2 baths
$3,200
Apartment for rent
Outdoor Space
Assigned Parking
Dishwasher
In-Unit Laundry
2d ago
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$2,931–$4,772
Price drop
Apartment for rent
Available Aug 3
2d ago
120 San Lorenzo Blvd, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Garage parking | On-site laundry | Balcony
Studio–2 beds
1 bath
$1,925–$3,615
Apartment for rent
2d ago
Westside apartment for rent in Santa Cruz
2 beds
1 bath
$2,695
Apartment for rent
Available Jul 31
2d ago
Condo for rent in Santa Cruz
1 bed
1 bath
$2,450
Condo for rent
2d ago
4 beds
1 bath
$7,100
Apartment for rent
2d ago
Eastside apartment for rent in Santa Cruz
Studio
1 bath
$2,525
$2,331
Price drop
Apartment for rent
Average rent
The average rent in Santa Cruz, as of August 2026, is down 2.83% compared to last month and down 5.37% year-over-year.Track prices
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What can I afford?
3d ago
Apartment for rent in Santa Cruz
1 bed
1 bath
$2,850
Apartment for rent
Available Aug 1
3d ago
2 beds
2 baths
$4,295–$4,500
Apartment for rent
3d ago
411 Pennsylvania Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
In-unit laundry | Garage parking | Assigned parking
3 beds
2 baths
$5,200
Apartment for rent
3d ago
House for rent in Santa Cruz
3 beds
2 baths
$4,800
House for rent
Available Sep 1
3d ago
1–2 beds
1 bath
$3,100–$3,899
Apartment for rent
3d ago
Apartment for rent in Santa Cruz
On-site management | Business center
2 beds
1 bath
$2,895
Apartment for rent
Available Jul 16
3d ago
Eastside apartment for rent in Santa Cruz
In-unit laundry | On-site management | Business center
2 beds
1 bath
$2,795
Apartment for rent
Available Jul 9
3d ago
Apartment for rent in Santa Cruz
On-site management | Business center
3 beds
1 bath
$3,895
Apartment for rent
Available Aug 10
3d ago
Downtown Santa Cruz apartment for rent in Santa Cruz
In-unit laundry | On-site management | Business center
1 bed
1 bath
$2,650
Apartment for rent
Available Aug 10
3d ago
2 beds
1 bath
$2,950
Apartment for rent
3d ago
1 bed
1 bath
$2,400
Apartment for rent
3d ago
Eastside apartment for rent in Santa Cruz
On-site laundry | Assigned parking | Carpet
2 beds
1 bath
$3,345
$3,195
Price drop
Apartment for rent
Available Jul 20
3d ago
House for rent in Santa Cruz
3 beds
2 baths
$4,395
House for rent
Available Jul 30
4d ago
2 beds
1 bath
$3,300
Apartment for rent
4d ago
2 beds
1 bath
$2,900
Apartment for rent
4d ago
Westside condo for rent in Santa Cruz
228 Everson Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
In-unit laundry | Furnished | Garage parking
2 beds
2 baths
$4,700
$4,000
Price drop
Condo for rent
Available Aug 1
4d ago
Condo for rent in Santa Cruz
2 beds
1 bath
$3,595
$3,445
Price drop
Condo for rent
4d ago
Eastside house for rent in Santa Cruz
3 beds
2 baths
$4,900
$4,600
Price drop
House for rent
5d+ ago
2 beds
1 bath
$3,649
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Eastside townhouse for rent in Santa Cruz
3 beds
3.5 baths
$4,950
House for rent
5d+ ago
1 bed
1 bath
$2,595
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
1 bed
2 baths
$1,295–$1,695
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
1 bed
1 bath
$2,450
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
1 bed
1 bath
$2,400
Price drop
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
2 beds
1 bath
$3,690
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
2500 Soquel Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95065
On-site laundry | Controlled access | Outdoor space
2 beds
1 bath
$3,381
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
2 beds
1 bath
$3,100
Price drop
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Westside condo for rent in Santa Cruz
In-unit laundry | Garage parking | On-site management
2 beds
2 baths
$3,495
$3,349
Price drop
Condo for rent
Available Feb 10
5d+ ago
3 beds
2 baths
$6,095
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Westside condo for rent in Santa Cruz
2 beds
1.5 baths
$3,800
Condo for rent
5d+ ago
Westside apartment for rent in Santa Cruz
1504 Bay St #7, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
In-unit laundry | Air conditioning | Assigned parking
2 beds
1 bath
$3,725
Apartment for rent
Available Jul 25
5d+ ago
Eastside apartment for rent in Santa Cruz
On-site laundry | Assigned parking | Ceiling fan
2 beds
1 bath
$3,475
Apartment for rent
Available Jul 16
5d+ ago
House for rent in Santa Cruz
3 beds
2 baths
$4,295
House for rent
Available Jul 25
5d+ ago
Westside apartment for rent in Santa Cruz
2 beds
1 bath
$3,400
Apartment for rent
Available Aug 5
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Santa Cruz is Spanish for “holy cross”, and serves as the county seat of Santa Cruz County on the coastline of Northern California. Its on the north edge of Monterey Bay and includes gorgeous beaches and historic structures that attract both surfers and tourists to the area. Spanish settlers founded the city in 1791, establishing Mission Santa Cruz. The establishment of the mission led to significant settlement growth, although the town was notorious throughout Alta, California, due to its lawlessness.
Santa Cruz was incorporated as a city in the mid-19th century. In 1907, the city raised its beach boardwalk, which helped solidify it as a tourist destination. The University of California educational system built its Santa Cruz campus in 1965, which brought college students to the city. Approximately 63,000 people live in Santa Cruz, and thousands visit the beach community every year.
The presence of the University of California Santa Cruz has a significant influence on the economy. Many neighborhoods surrounding campus cater to college students, and the university is the city's top employer. Other industries that affect the economy include agriculture, technology, and tourism.
The downtown area is known for its unique atmosphere, boasting small shops, local eateries, and nightclubs. Many performers and musicians also work the streets, while Pacific Avenue features the work of local artists on display.
This beachfront city has something for everyone, including amusement rides on the boardwalk and annual festivals.
Santa Cruz, CA offers residents a blend of coastal charm and vibrant culture, with a strong emphasis on outdoor activities like surfing and hiking. Many appreciate the laid-back atmosphere, highlighting the nearby beaches and local parks as key benefits of living here. The downtown area is celebrated for its eclectic mix of shops and restaurants. However, some residents express concerns over the high cost of living and limited parking options, which can be frustrating for renters trying to navigate daily life. Overall, the balance of natural beauty and community engagement makes Santa Cruz a unique place to live, albeit with its challenges.
Based on Zumper's July 2026 data, one-bedroom apartments in Santa Cruz average around $2,660/month and two-bedrooms approximately $3,670/month, both relatively stable year over year.
December offers the best rental deals in Santa Cruz, with rents running 17% lower than April's peak prices. November also provides good opportunities with the least competitive market conditions compared to the high-demand spring months of March and May.
Downtown Santa Cruz draws the highest renter interest at around $2,850/month for one-bedrooms, while Westside offers the largest inventory with 30% of available listings. Beach Hill and Eastside round out the top neighborhoods, all featuring excellent walkability and vibrant social scenes.
Eastside offers the best value for budget-conscious renters, with one-bedroom apartments averaging around $2,240/month, running 11% below the city median. Looking at our current data, Eastside also provides a median rent of approximately $3,320 compared to Westside's $3,940.
Based on our current listings, roughly 26% of Santa Cruz rentals are pet-friendly, with excellent options across Westside, Downtown, Beach Hill, and Eastside neighborhoods. These areas feature pet amenities like dedicated spaces, nearby dog parks, and pet waste stations.
In our current listings, utilities-included rentals are rare in Santa Cruz, showing up in under 0.1% of units. Studios lead at 0.18% of listings, while one-bedrooms and two-bedrooms each show around 0.06%.
Zumper’s proprietary rental data fuels our analysis. Rent and market trends, availability, neighborhood popularity, and lifestyle scores are all calculated using real-time and 2026 rental inventory and prices.
Our Lifestyle Categories ("great for eco-living," "great for social life," "great for pet owners," etc.) are determined by set criteria, against which we score each listing and its available features. At the neighborhood level, we calculate the listing count for each category to determine which lifestyles best fit each area.
Zumper, founded in 2012, is North America’s largest privately-owned rental platform, offering over 1 million listings across the U.S. and Canada. Stay informed on the latest trends and shifts in the rental market with our monthly National Rent Report, your go-to resource for key insights into the evolving rental landscape.
| 🔑Available apartment rentals | 183 |
|---|---|
| 💰Best rent deal | 514 Broadway |
| ✨Popular amenities | , , |
| 🧦In-unit laundry | |
| 🍽With dishwasher | |
| 🏠With photos |