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17h ago
Verified
200 Button St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Garage parking | On-site laundry | Swimming pool
1–2 beds
1 bath
$2,000–$3,845
Apartment for rent
23h ago
Verified
1–2 beds
1–2 baths
$2,837–$4,139
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Eastside house for rent in Santa Cruz
2 beds
2.5 baths
$4,895
House for rent
1d ago
120 San Lorenzo Blvd, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Garage parking | On-site laundry | Balcony
Studio–2 beds
1 bath
$1,925–$3,725
Apartment for rent
5d+ 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
3h ago
Westside apartment for rent in Santa Cruz
510 Lincoln St #2, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
In-unit laundry | Assigned parking | Hardwood floor
2 beds
1 bath
$3,549
Apartment for rent
4h ago
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$2,915–$4,929
Apartment for rent
Available Aug 22
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4h ago
Eastside apartment for rent in Santa Cruz
On-site laundry | Assigned parking | Carpet
2 beds
1 bath
$3,195
$3,095
Price drop
Apartment for rent
Available Aug 21
4h ago
Westside house for rent in Santa Cruz
3 beds
1.5 baths
$5,400
$5,200
Price drop
House for rent
Available Aug 20
In-Unit Laundry
Garage Parking
Outdoor Space
Dishwasher
10h ago
1–2 beds
1 bath
$2,400–$2,950
Apartment for rent
12h ago
Westside apartment for rent in Santa Cruz
Outdoor space
2 beds
2 baths
$4,860
Apartment for rent
12h ago
Westside apartment for rent in Santa Cruz
Outdoor space
1 bed
1 bath
$3,831
Apartment for rent
15h ago
2 beds
2 baths
$5,200
Apartment for rent
1d ago
2 beds
2 baths
$4,295–$4,500
Apartment for rent
1d ago
Westside house for rent in Santa Cruz
3 beds
2 baths
$4,400
House for rent
1d ago
House for rent in Santa Cruz
3 beds
2.5 baths
$5,675
House for rent
1d ago
Eastside apartment for rent in Santa Cruz
3 beds
1 bath
$2,595
Apartment for rent
Available Oct 30
1d ago
Townhouse for rent in Santa Cruz
In-unit laundry | Deck | On-site management
2 beds
1.5 baths
$2,895
House for rent
Available Aug 18
1d ago
Apartment for rent in Santa Cruz
In-unit laundry | Deck | On-site management
2 beds
1 bath
$2,395
Apartment for rent
Available Aug 19
1d ago
Apartment for rent in Santa Cruz
Storage | On-site management | Business center
1 bed
1 bath
$2,695
Apartment for rent
Available Aug 27
1d ago
Condo for rent in Santa Cruz
In-unit laundry | Dishwasher | Oven
2 beds
2 baths
$4,000
Condo for rent
1d ago
2 beds
1 bath
$2,875
Price drop
Apartment for rent
1d ago
3 beds
2 baths
$4,490
Apartment for rent
2d ago
Westside condo for rent in Santa Cruz
2 beds
1.5 baths
$3,500
Condo for rent
2d ago
Eastside apartment for rent in Santa Cruz
In-unit laundry | Garage parking | Elevator
1 bed
1 bath
$2,700
Apartment for rent
2d ago
1 bed
1 bath
$2,550
Apartment for rent
2d ago
3 beds
2 baths
$5,850
Apartment for rent
2d ago
Westside apartment for rent in Santa Cruz
1 bed
1 bath
$2,175
$1,995
Price drop
Apartment for rent
Available Jun 19
3d ago
2 beds
2 baths
$3,295
Price drop
Apartment for rent
3d ago
2 beds
1 bath
$3,050
Apartment for rent
3d ago
1 bed
2 baths
$1,295–$1,695
Apartment for rent
3d ago
Apartment for rent in Santa Cruz
On-site management | Business center
3 beds
1 bath
$3,895
$3,695
Price drop
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
$2,550
Price drop
Apartment for rent
Available Aug 10
3d ago
1 bed
1 bath
$2,500
Apartment for rent
3d ago
2 beds
1 bath
$2,650
Apartment for rent
3d ago
2 beds
1 bath
$3,500
Apartment for rent
3d ago
2 beds
1 bath
$3,000
Apartment for rent
4d ago
Westside condo for rent in Santa Cruz
156 Castillion Ter, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
In-unit laundry | Air conditioning | Garage parking
2 beds
1.5 baths
$2,230
Condo for rent
4d ago
Eastside apartment for rent in Santa Cruz
1 bed
1 bath
$2,400
Apartment for rent
4d ago
Studio
1 bath
$2,200
Apartment for rent
4d ago
House for rent in Santa Cruz
In-unit laundry | On-site management | Business center
1 bed
1 bath
$2,595
House for rent
Available Aug 24
4d ago
House for rent in Santa Cruz
In-unit laundry | On-site management | Business center
2 beds
1 bath
$3,195
House for rent
Available Aug 24
4d ago
Eastside house for rent in Santa Cruz
3 beds
2 baths
$4,800
$4,500
Price drop
House for rent
4d ago
Townhouse for rent in Santa Cruz
2 beds
1.5 baths
$3,150
House for rent
Available Sep 1
5d+ ago
411 Pennsylvania Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
In-unit laundry | Garage parking | Assigned parking
3 beds
2 baths
$4,995
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Eastside house for rent in Santa Cruz
2 beds
1 bath
$3,850
House for rent
5d+ ago
House for rent in Santa Cruz
1 bed
1 bath
$2,400
House for rent
5d+ ago
Eastside apartment for rent in Santa Cruz
Studio
1 bath
$2,480
Apartment for rent
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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.
As of today, Santa Cruz's median rent price is $3,462 per month, which is down 6%, or $227, compared to last year.
Median rent
$3,462
YoY change
−6%
−$227/mo
Rentals, last 30 days
94
| Size | Value | YoY |
|---|---|---|
| All bedrooms | $3,462 | −6% |
| 1 bedroom | $2,550 | N/A |
| 2 bedroom | $3,500 | −4% |
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 | 166 |
|---|---|
| 💰Best rent deal | 514 Broadway |
| ✨Popular amenities | , , |
| 🧦In-unit laundry | |
| 🍽With dishwasher | |
| 🏠With photos |