Nearby rentals
Renter hub
Property management
Filters
The average monthly rent in Santa Cruz is down 1% compared to last month and down 3.18% year-over-year.
Average rent
Track prices
Rent calculator
What can I afford?
All rentals
2d ago
Verified
1–2 beds
1–2 baths
$2,829–$4,147
Apartment for rent
3d ago
Verified
200 Button St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Garage parking | On-site laundry | Swimming pool
1–2 beds
1 bath
$2,000–$3,955
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Apartment for rent in Santa Cruz
2 beds
1 bath
$3,795
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Apartment for rent in Santa Cruz
2 beds
1 bath
$3,795
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Westside house for rent in Santa Cruz
3 beds
2 baths
$4,600
$3,995
Price drop
House for rent
5d+ ago
Townhouse for rent in Santa Cruz
1 bed
1 bath
$2,750
House for rent
Available Nov 1
5d+ ago
Verified
127 Pearl St #3, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Garage parking | On-site laundry | Balcony
2 beds
1 bath
$2,995
Apartment for rent
Available Sep 27
3h ago
Eastside apartment for rent in Santa Cruz
1 bed
1 bath
$2,100
Apartment for rent
Be the first to hear about new listings matching your search.
3h ago
Studio
1 bath
$1,800
Apartment for rent
6h ago
2 beds
1 bath
$2,695
Apartment for rent
Dishwasher
Outdoor Space
In-Unit Laundry
Assigned Parking
7h ago
Apartment for rent in Santa Cruz
2 beds
1 bath
$3,000
Apartment for rent
7h ago
Eastside apartment for rent in Santa Cruz
Assigned parking | Hardwood floor | Oven
1 bed
1 bath
$2,350
Apartment for rent
8h ago
1–2 beds
1–2 baths
$2,450–$3,400
Apartment for rent
10h ago
2500 Soquel Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95065
On-site laundry | Controlled access | Outdoor space
2–3 beds
1 bath
$3,381–$3,933
Apartment for rent
11h ago
1 bed
1 bath
$2,300
Apartment for rent
13h ago
4 beds
2 baths
$4,200
Apartment for rent
1d ago
1–2 beds
1–2 baths
$2,995–$4,882
Price drop
Apartment for rent
Available Nov 11
1d ago
2 beds
1 bath
$3,990
Apartment for rent
2d ago
Apartment for rent in Santa Cruz
708 Riverside Ave #E, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
In-unit laundry | Air conditioning
3 beds
2 baths
$4,200
Apartment for rent
Available Nov 15
2d ago
Apartment for rent in Santa Cruz
708 Riverside Ave #F, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
In-unit laundry | Air conditioning
3 beds
2 baths
$4,200
Apartment for rent
Available Nov 15
2d ago
Apartment for rent in Santa Cruz
708 Riverside Ave #A, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Assigned parking
2 beds
1 bath
$2,900
Apartment for rent
Available Nov 15
3d ago
Westside house for rent in Santa Cruz
2 beds
1 bath
$3,400
House for rent
3d ago
704 704 - 718 Broadway / 428 Ocean View, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Garage parking | On-site laundry | Assigned parking
1 bed
1 bath
$2,790
Apartment for rent
3d ago
Downtown Santa Cruz condo for rent in Santa Cruz
318 Chestnut St #4, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
On-site laundry | Assigned parking | Carpet
1 bed
1 bath
$2,500
Condo for rent
Available Oct 1
3d ago
Downtown Santa Cruz condo for rent in Santa Cruz
318 Chestnut St #1, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
On-site laundry | Assigned parking | Carpet
1 bed
1 bath
$2,500
Condo for rent
Available Oct 1
4d ago
Westside house for rent in Santa Cruz
3 beds
2 baths
$3,895
House for rent
4d ago
1 bed
1 bath
$2,400
Apartment for rent
4d ago
Condo for rent in Santa Cruz
1 bed
1 bath
$2,750
$2,500
Price drop
Condo for rent
4d ago
1303 Laurel St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
In-unit laundry | Hardwood floor | Dishwasher
2 beds
1 bath
$3,600
Apartment for rent
4d ago
House for rent in Santa Cruz
In-unit laundry | On-site laundry | Storage
2 beds
1 bath
$4,200
House for rent
Available Nov 8
4d ago
2 beds
2 baths
$5,200
Apartment for rent
4d ago
1 bed
1 bath
$2,750
Condo for rent
5d+ ago
Studio
1 bath
$2,495
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Condo for rent in Santa Cruz
2 beds
1 bath
$4,500
Condo for rent
5d+ ago
2 beds
1 bath
$2,695
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
120 San Lorenzo Blvd, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Garage parking | On-site laundry | Balcony
Studio–2 beds
1 bath
$1,925–$2,600
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
House for rent in Santa Cruz
1053 Brommer St #NA, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
In-unit laundry | Air conditioning | On-site laundry
2 beds
2 baths
$3,300
House for rent
Available Nov 7
5d+ ago
House for rent in Santa Cruz
231 6th Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Furnished | On-site laundry | Balcony
2 beds
1 bath
$4,400
House for rent
5d+ ago
House for rent in Santa Cruz
1 bed
1 bath
$3,150
$3,050
Price drop
House for rent
Available Nov 4
5d+ ago
Westside apartment for rent in Santa Cruz
2 beds
1 bath
$2,495
$2,395
Price drop
Apartment for rent
Available Oct 10
5d+ ago
House for rent in Santa Cruz
2 beds
3 baths
$3,800
House for rent
Available Nov 4
5d+ ago
1240 Shaffer Rd, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Garage parking | On-site laundry | Assigned parking
1–2 beds
1–2 baths
$3,790–$4,595
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
2 beds
1 bath
$3,200
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Eastside house for rent in Santa Cruz
204 Alhambra Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Furnished | Garage parking | Storage
3 beds
2 baths
$7,795
House for rent
5d+ ago
Apartment for rent in Santa Cruz
2 beds
2 baths
$4,495
$4,295
Price drop
Apartment for rent
Available Oct 27
5d+ ago
Eastside house for rent in Santa Cruz
4 beds
2 baths
$5,000
House for rent
5d+ ago
Eastside house for rent in Santa Cruz
114 Fairbanks St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
In-unit laundry | Assigned parking | Hardwood floor
3 beds
2 baths
$5,500
House for rent
5d+ ago
House for rent in Santa Cruz
2603 Mattison Ln #NA, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
In-unit laundry | Air conditioning | Assigned parking
2 beds
2 baths
$4,000
House for rent
Available Nov 1
5d+ ago
House for rent in Santa Cruz
401 15th Ave #NA, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
In-unit laundry | Garage parking | Assigned parking
3 beds
2 baths
$6,800
$6,500
Price drop
House for rent
Available Dec 15
Are you a rental professional?
24 rentals
54 rentals
47 rentals
32 rentals
27 rentals
60 rentals
23 rentals
30 rentals
778 rentals
243 rentals
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.
7
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.
As of 2025, the average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Santa Cruz is $2,594, while a 2-bedroom apartment averages $3,628 per month.
Rents in Santa Cruz have generally decreased, with the average rent dropping by about 3%. Specifically, 1-bedroom rents decreased by 5%, and 2-bedroom rents dropped by 7%.
The best time to look for an apartment in Santa Cruz is in October or December when rents are lower and competition is less intense compared to the peak in April.
The best neighborhoods for renting in Santa Cruz include Beach Hill, Downtown Santa Cruz, Eastside, and Westside, known for their vibrant culture and community atmosphere.
For budget-conscious renters, the Eastside neighborhood is a great option, with 1-bedroom rents averaging 10% lower than the city median.
Yes, Santa Cruz has a good number of pet-friendly apartments, with about 42% of listings accommodating pets.
Utilities are included in approximately 30% of rental listings in Santa Cruz.
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 2024 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 | 126 |
|---|---|
| 💰Best rent deal | 1051 Chanticleer Ave |
| ✨Popular amenities | , , |
| 🧦In-unit laundry | |
| 🍽With dishwasher | |
| 🏠With photos |